A vigorous upper level cyclone moving northeast from northern Mexico through the heart of Texas on the 17th and 18th induced an equally strong surface cyclone over the middle Rio Grande Valley of southwest Texas and extreme northern Mexico. This cyclone moved slowly east through the Lower Rio Grande Valley, producing persistent strong gusty southeast winds during the mornings of the 17th and 18th across the populated portions of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, causing power outages and minor damage in a few areas.
The trough eventually eased across all of Deep South Texas during the afternoon and evening of the 18th, but was followed by surges of very strong west to northwest winds on several occasions, beginning during the mid afternoon and continuing a little past sunset.  The post-trough winds produced additional structural damage, particularly in Hidalgo County.

High Wind in ZAPATA, TEXAS
From 18-MAR-08 17:05:00 to 18-MAR-08 19:05:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A surge of sustained winds near 40 mph with estimated gusts perhaps near 60 mph likely affected portions of Zapata County during the late afternoon and early evening. While specific damage was not reported, emergency management noted pockets of minor damage with the high winds in Zapata, and perhaps farther north toward San Ygnacio.  Measured winds of 34 mph with gusts to 48 mph were recorded at Laredo between 6 and 7 PM CST; extrapolation of sustained winds of 38 mph, gusting to 53 mph, at Hebbronville at 6:05 PM CST may be representative of similar winds in Zapata County at those times.

High Wind in STARR, TEXAS
From 18-MAR-08 14:30:00 to 18-MAR-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

A surge of sustained winds near 40 mph with estimated gusts perhaps nearing 55 to 60 mph likely occurred in northern Starr County during the mid and late afternoon. Data were extrapolated for northern and northeastern portions of the county between 2:30 and 4:30 PM CST based on observations near McAllen, and the onset of an explosively developing wild fire at the Burns Ranch (just north of the Starr and Hidalgo line with Brooks County), as well as another wild fire southeast of La Gloria.

Strong Wind in HIDALGO, TEXAS
From 17-MAR-08 09:00:00 to 17-MAR-08 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 42.00 MG
Property damage: 2.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Strong and gusty winds cranked up just before noon along the Federal Highway 77 corridor, extending across the Lower Rio Grande Valley on into Hidalgo and Brooks County. Sustained winds of 25 to 38 mph, with frequent gusts above 40 mph, were common between 9 AM and sunset. Peak sustained winds of 38 mph occurred between 1:30 and 2:00 PM CST; a peak gust of 48 mph was observed at McAllen/Miller Airport at 1:49 PM CST.
Numerous power lines were knocked down across the populated portions of the county from McAllen and Pharr east to the Cameron County line; at least 2000 customers were without power during the peak of the winds in the afternoon. Hidalgo County emergency management reported receiving several phone calls of utility poles on fire due to strong winds whipping the power lines.

High Wind in WILLACY, TEXAS
From 17-MAR-08 11:52:00 to 17-MAR-08 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Very strong and gusty winds cranked up just before noon along the Federal Highway 77 corridor, reaching near or at 40 mph between Noon and 3:30 PM, along with a peak gust to 54 mph at Valley International Airport in Harlingen, only about 6 miles south of the Willacy County line, at 12:27 PM.  The highest sustained wind was recorded at approximately 2:52 PM CT.  It is likely that hundreds of residents were temporarily without power during the peak wind period in the county.

Strong Wind in COASTAL WILLACY, TEXAS
From 17-MAR-08 11:00:00 to 17-MAR-08 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 41.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Strong and gusty winds blew through coastal Cameron and Willacy County during the late morning and afternoon of March 17th.  Winds were just a bit less near the coast, owing to the presence of a marine layer.  However, peak sustained winds of 36 mph were recorded at Bayview/Port Isabel airport at around 1:53 PM CST, and these winds were likely similar up along the coast of Willacy County as well.

High Surf in COASTAL CAMERON, TEXAS
From 17-MAR-08 16:00:00 to 18-MAR-08 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The strength and persistence of the low pressure system extended its influence well into the western Gulf, including a prolonged duration and fetch of 20 knot or higher wind from deep in the Bay of Campeche northwest through the South Texas coast.
By mid afternoon on the 18th, sea heights had built to near 16 feet at the NOAA Buoy east of Padre Island (Kenedy County), and, along with a wave period of 10 to 11 seconds, both tidal overwash and rough, confused, and high surf was observed along South Padre Island, where thousands of people were enjoying Spring Break.
Unfortunately, a number of vehicles were briefly stranded along the beach near and during high tide during the late afternoon of March 17th, when seas built toward 10 feet, and again on the 18th.

High Surf in COASTAL WILLACY, TEXAS
From 17-MAR-08 16:00:00 to 18-MAR-08 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Buoy

The strength and persistence of the low pressure system extended its influence well into the western Gulf, including a prolonged duration and fetch of 20 knot or higher wind from deep in the Bay of Campeche northwest through the South Texas coast.
By mid afternoon on the 18th, sea heights had built to near 16 feet at the NOAA Buoy east of Padre Island (Kenedy County), and, along with a wave period of 10 to 11 seconds, both tidal overwash and rough, confused, and high surf was observed along South Padre Island, where thousands of people were enjoying Spring Break.
Extrapolating from reports down the coast from South Padre Island, it can be assumed that similar high, rough, and confused surf likely occurred along the shoreline of Padre Island along the unpopulated Willacy County coastline.

High Wind in CAMERON, TEXAS
From 17-MAR-08 11:52:00 to 17-MAR-08 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Reported by: ASOS

Very strong and gusty winds cranked up just before noon along the Federal Highway 77 corridor, reaching near or at 40 mph between Noon and 3:30 PM, along with a peak gust to 54 mph at Valley International Airport at 12:27 PM.  The highest sustained wind was recorded at approximately 2:52 PM CT.  Several power lines were knocked down from Brownsville to Harlingen, and a tree fell onto power lines at 112 Dew Street in Harlingen. It is likely that at least one thousand residents were temporarily without power during the peak wind period.

Strong Wind in COASTAL CAMERON, TEXAS
From 17-MAR-08 11:00:00 to 17-MAR-08 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 41.00 MG
Property damage: 0.50K
Reported by: ASOS

Strong and gusty winds blew through coastal Cameron and Willacy County during the late morning and afternoon of March 17th.  Winds were just a bit less near the coast, owing to the presence of a marine layer.  However, peak sustained winds of 36 mph were recorded at Bayview/Port Isabel airport at around 1:53 PM CST.

High Wind in JIM HOGG, TEXAS
From 18-MAR-08 17:05:00 to 18-MAR-08 19:05:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 53.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A surge of sustained winds near 40 mph with estimated gusts perhaps up to 61 mph knocked down several trees or large limbs across the northern half of the county, including Hebbronville. Local power outages likely occurred in the area as well; the sharp wind gusts also caused a wild fire just northwest of town to explosively spread.  Measured sustained winds at the Jim Hogg County/Hebbronville Airport were 38 mph, with gusts to 53 mph, at 6:05 CST.

High Wind in HIDALGO, TEXAS
From 18-MAR-08 14:53:00 to 18-MAR-08 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Notable damage occurred during the middle of the afternoon in portions of Hidalgo County, as a surge of sustained winds near 40 mph with gusts of at least 52 mph produced minor structural damage at industrial buildings, more downed power lines, and some tree damage, mainly between Pharr, McAllen, Edinburg, and Weslaco.
Two minor injuries were reported near McAllen from a partial roof or wall collapse at an old building. As of this writing, an estimated 7000 customers had lost power in portions of the area, primarily the populated portions of Hidalgo County, due to the winds. McAllen/Miller airport had a peak sustained wind of 39 mph at around 3:03 PM CST, with a gust to 51 mph at around 3:09 PM CST.

High Wind in BROOKS, TEXAS
From 18-MAR-08 15:05:00 to 18-MAR-08 19:05:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

A surge of sustained winds near 40 mph with estimated gusts perhaps near 60 mph likely carried into western Brooks County on a few occasions from mid afternoon through early evening. Data were extrapolated for southwestern portions of the county between 3 and 4 PM CST based on observations near McAllen and the onset of an explosively developing wild fire at the Burns Ranch.
Data were extrapolated for northwestern portions of the county based on measured wind gusts over 50 mph, with estimated gusts to 61 mph, along with damage to trees, in northeastern Jim Hogg County during the early evening.

High Wind in CAMERON, TEXAS
From 18-MAR-08 09:00:00 to 18-MAR-08 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 37.00 MS
Property damage: 1.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Strong and gusty southeast winds persisted through the night of the 17th and into the morning of the 18th, where they pulsed up once again along the Federal Highway 77 corridor between Brownsville and Harlingen.  Sustained winds of 40 mph were recorded at Valley International Airport at 952 AM CST, with a peak gust to 52 mph at 1044 CST; sustained winds of 43 mph were recorded at the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport sometime between  830 and 10 AM CST, with a peak gust of 52 mph at 929 AM CST. Additional power outages from fallen lines, and/or tree limbs having fallen on them, were noted during the morning of the 18th from Brownsville to Harlingen.

High Wind in WILLACY, TEXAS
From 18-MAR-08 09:00:00 to 18-MAR-08 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Strong and gusty southeast winds persisted through the night of the 17th and into the morning of the 18th, where they pulsed up once again along the Federal Highway 77 corridor and likely reaching into Willacy County between Sebastian and Raymondville.  Sustained winds of 40 mph were recorded at Valley International Airport in northeast Harlingen, just 6 miles south of the county line, at 952 AM CST, with a peak gust to 52 mph at 1044 CST. Some power outages from fallen lines, and/or tree limbs having fallen on them, may have occurred during the morning of the 18th between Sebastian and Raymondville.