A cold front moved through South Texas on Saturday morning, January 8, 2011 and was situated over Deep South Texas Saturday afternoon, with temperatures generally in the 50s area-wide. However as the storm system approached, a surface low pressure area formed along the frontal boundary, which helped to draw warm and humid conditions northward into the Coastal Bend.
As the upper level storm system moved through the region, very strong wind shear developed and combined with an unstable atmosphere to produce a line of severe thunderstorms. A tornadic thunderstorm developed near the proximity of the surface low and retreating warm front, which persisted for over 20 miles travelling from just southeast of Alice to near Calallen. Damaging straight line winds affected most of the Coastal Bend and extended well into the Gulf of Mexico east of Rockport. Widespread wind damage was observed across the Coastal Bend as the storms moved quickly through the region. Approximately 30,000 customers lost power as a result of the storms. This marks the first time a tornado has been recorded in South Texas in the month of January, dating back to 1950. Property damage for the tornado and straight-line winds for the Coastal Bend was estimated to be around 10 million dollars.
From Calallen through Portland and Rockport, doppler radar indicated a broad, yet strong rotation between 4 and 430 AM CST. A NWS storm survey concluded straight-line winds between 70 and 90 mph occurred along this path. A path length of damage of nearly 65 miles was observed from the starting point of the tornado in Jim Wells County to the end of the straight-line wind damage in Rockport.
Further north, doppler radar indicated another bowing segment in the line across  Victoria and Calhoun Counties between 400 and 500 AM CST. The Seadrift TCOON site recorded a wind gust of 70 mph. A NWS storm survey team concluded straight line wind speeds of around 70 mph occurred from rural southern Victoria County to Seadrift in southwestern Calhoun County.

Thunderstorm Wind in VICTORIA, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 04:40:00 to 09-JAN-11 04:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLACEDO
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Portion of a roof were blown off house and barn onto Highway 87 just south of FM 616. Winds of 70 mph estimated by NWS storm survey team.

Thunderstorm Wind in LIVE OAK, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 02:33:00 to 09-JAN-11 02:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLEGG
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Large trees were blown down. A deer blind was destroyed.

Thunderstorm Wind in VICTORIA, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 04:27:00 to 09-JAN-11 04:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: NURSERY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Reported by: Department of Highways

Car was blown into the ditch on Highway 87, one mile north of FM 447.

Thunderstorm Wind in VICTORIA, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 04:23:00 to 09-JAN-11 04:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: NURSERY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Power pole blown on a trailer home at the 13000 block of North Highway 87.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALHOUN, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 04:52:00 to 09-JAN-11 04:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: PORT LAVACA
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A few asphalt shingles were blown off of residence.

Thunderstorm Wind in NUECES, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 04:02:00 to 09-JAN-11 04:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: (CRP)CORPUS CHRISTI
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

ASOS at the Corpus Christi International Airport measured a 69 mph wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind in NUECES, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 04:16:00 to 09-JAN-11 04:16:00 (CST-6)
Location: TEXAS A AND I
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Reported by: NWS Employee

An NWS employee measured a 59 MPH wind gust in Corpus Christi along South Padre Island Drive.

Thunderstorm Wind in CALHOUN, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 04:48:00 to 09-JAN-11 04:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: SEADRIFT
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A large light pole was snapped at a baseball field. An awning was blown off of a business and into boats at the marina.

Hail in SAN PATRICIO, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 04:24:00 to 09-JAN-11 04:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: ARANSAS PASS
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 1.00M
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Ping pong ball sized hail occurred in Aransas Pass. Numerous RVs sustained minor to major damage from the hail located at several RV resorts around Aransas Pass.

Thunderstorm Wind in NUECES, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 03:48:00 to 09-JAN-11 03:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: DRISCOLL
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained spotter reported winds estimated to around 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in JIM WELLS, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 03:30:00 to 09-JAN-11 03:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: (ALI)ALICE INTL ARPT
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Reported by: ASOS

ASOS at Alice International Airport measured a 67 mph gust.

Tornado in JIM WELLS, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 03:25:00 to 09-JAN-11 03:29:00 (CST-6)
Location: (ALI)ALICE INTL ARPT
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 10.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A NWS storm survey concluded a tornado started roughly 4 miles southeast of the Alice International Airport and continued northeast into Nueces County. The tornado damaged trees and blew down 2 power poles just south of FM 665.

Tornado in NUECES, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 03:29:00 to 09-JAN-11 03:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: AGUA DULCE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 5.00M
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A National Weather Service (NWS) storm survey team determined a tornado, that touched down 4 miles southeast of Alice International Airport in Jim Wells county  continued northeast for 21.5 miles. It travelled through the northwest side of Robstown and ended near Five Points in Calallen. The tornado was strongest from the west-southwest side of Robstown to its end point near Calallen, where wind speeds of up to 100 mph and a width of 200 yards were estimated.
Damage to high voltage power lines, poles, large trees, and signs were observed along the path length. In addition, two large sheds, a barn and a tractor were destroyed southwest of Robstown. On the northwest side of Robstown, numerous trees were snapped and several homes had damage to shingles and wooden roofing. Debris in the form of tin, wood, and sports equipment were strewn across Robstown High School. A large section of the roof of the Robstown High School gymnasium was torn off and a two fifteen-ton air conditioning units, weighing around 1 ton each, were blown off the auditorium. Damage occurred to hundreds of cars at two dealerships south of Calallen.
This was the first tornado on record in South Texas during the month of January. Total property damage was estimated to be around 5 million dollars with the tornado.

Thunderstorm Wind in NUECES, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 03:45:00 to 09-JAN-11 03:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROBSTOWN CO ARPT
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 500.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

NWS employee reported trees and powerlines down on the west and north side of Robstown. Shingle and wooden roof damage occurred to homes. The damaging straight-line winds occurred after the tornado moved through the northwest edge of the city.

Thunderstorm Wind in NUECES, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 03:50:00 to 09-JAN-11 03:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: LON HILL
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Semi truck flipped near the Wal-Mart in Calallen. Street signs were blown and shopping carts were blown onto Highway 77.

Thunderstorm Wind in SAN PATRICIO, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 04:09:00 to 09-JAN-11 04:14:00 (CST-6)
Location: PORTLAND HUNT ARPT
Magnitude: 87.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

NWS storm survey team observed 3 mobile homes destroyed at a mobile home park just north of Gregory-Portland High School with several others damaged. Minor damage to moveable bleachers occurred at Gregory-Portland High School with wood and tin debris littering the area. Trees, fences, signs, and power lines were downed on north side of Portland. A barn was destroyed, also. Straight-line winds were estimated to be as high as 100 mph on the northwest side of Portland. Winds of 60 to 70 mph along with marble sized hail produced widespread roof damage to homes throughout Portland.

Thunderstorm Wind in ARANSAS, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 04:29:00 to 09-JAN-11 04:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROCKPORT
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Property damage: 400.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wood roof and awning of home blown completely off. Part of the roof blown into roof of nearby house. One snapped tree limb blown through wall of house. Roof damage and trees uprooted along a two mile path from Live Oak Elementary school to the intersection of Nopal and Austin Streets.

Thunderstorm Wind in VICTORIA, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 04:36:00 to 09-JAN-11 04:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLOOMINGTON
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Carport roof blown off of a home. Roof partially caved in and windown blown out of another home. A power pole was blown down. A shed was blown into a nearby house and street. Winds of 70 mph were estimated by a NWS storm survey team.

Hail in NUECES, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 03:48:00 to 09-JAN-11 03:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: DRISCOLL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 20.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Quarter sized hail occurred in Driscoll.

Thunderstorm Wind in NUECES, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 03:54:00 to 09-JAN-11 04:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: CALALLEN
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Damaging winds occurred from the Calallen area into the Annaville section of Corpus Christi. Metal air vents were bent and damaged at the power station in Calallen. There was sporadic tree, powerline, and fence damage in Calallen. Several metal sheds were destroyed. Trees were snapped and powerlines down in the Annaville area also. Minor to major roof damage occured in this area as well.

Thunderstorm Wind in VICTORIA, TEXAS
From 09-JAN-11 04:40:00 to 09-JAN-11 04:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: PLACEDO
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 25.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Guardrail damage occurred to bridge at Placedo. Power lines and street signs were down in the area.