A little more than a day after a thunderstorm system brought more severe weather to the Rio Grande Valley, the last vestige of very unstable air held forth mainly along and east of Highway 77. Despite unfavorable upper level conditions, the combination of the unstable air with a trigger in the form of a wind shift/dry line which moved within striking distance of Highway 77 allowed a small but potent cluster of thunderstorms to explosively grow initially in northern Willacy County just before 4 PM CDT. These storms would produce south���moving outflows, which added to the dryline trigger. Additional storms would fire in only a half hour, working on the very unstable atmosphere (above right) to increase updraft speed and develop quarter to half dollar sized hail ��� at least ��� between west Harlingen and La Feria and points south between 515 and 545 PM. Once again, there was some damage to vehicles caught in the hail, much containing jagged edges. Many residents caught by surprise by the rapid development moved their vehicles under gas station canopies, car washes, and highway underpasses.

Hail in CAMERON, TEXAS
From 12-MAY-12 16:25:00 to 12-MAY-12 16:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: RANGERVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Cameron County Emergency Manager reported quarter size hail at the intersection of County Road 800 and Rangerville Road.

Hail in CAMERON, TEXAS
From 12-MAY-12 16:10:00 to 12-MAY-12 16:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: LA FERIA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Public reported quarter size hail near La Feria.

Hail in WILLACY, TEXAS
From 12-MAY-12 15:06:00 to 12-MAY-12 15:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAYMONDVILLE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Public reported nickel size hail near Raymondville, about 2 miles east of Highway 77.

Hail in WILLACY, TEXAS
From 12-MAY-12 15:34:00 to 12-MAY-12 15:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAYMONDVILLE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Nickel sized hail was reported at the intersection of 1st St. and Tampico Ave., also on the north side of town, at 434 PM CDT, by the public.  Report was relayed to the NWS by a local weather broadcaster.

Hail in CAMERON, TEXAS
From 12-MAY-12 16:20:00 to 12-MAY-12 16:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: STUART PLACE
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Nickel to quarter size hail reported at Altas Palmas and Highway 83 and quarter size hail along Highway 83 on the west side of Harlingen. Report from spouse of NWS employee that car windshield was broken from the hail.

Hail in WILLACY, TEXAS
From 12-MAY-12 15:25:00 to 12-MAY-12 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: YTURRIA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Willacy County Emergency Manager reported quarter size hail near Yturria. The public reported quarter size hail on the north side of Raymondville.  Each report was from the same hail core, which moved quickly northeast of town and may have dropped larger hail over rural locations north of the City.

Hail in CAMERON, TEXAS
From 12-MAY-12 16:15:00 to 12-MAY-12 16:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: HARLINGEN
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Nickel sized hail was reported by the public on the west side of Harlingen along the Highway 77 and 83 interchange at 515 PM; penny sized hail was reported at the intersection of Harrison and U.S. Highway 77 at 520 PM, with another report of penny sized hail at the same time relayed by amateur radio from the general public in the same area.  Continuation of the hail for another five minutes was estimated by radar.

Lightning in CAMERON, TEXAS
From 12-MAY-12 15:10:00 to 12-MAY-12 15:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: STUART PLACE
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Palm Valley resident reported 5 palm trees set on fire by a lightning strike.