The severe thunderstorm warning for Willacy County has expired after briefly covering the area during a fast-moving round of dangerous weather. The alert ended Friday at 8:15 p.m., following the expiration of a tornado warning for Willacy and Kenedy counties.
The warning had been issued as a tornadic thunderstorm moved toward Port Mansfield. After the warning expired, stronger weather was still affecting parts of the coastal areas of northeastern Willacy County, though the storms were no longer classified as severe.
What residents were still facing
Even after the warning ended, thunderstorms continued to move through the region with the potential for gusty conditions. Forecasters said wind gusts could reach up to 40 mph, and pea-sized hail remained possible in the coastal areas of northeastern Willacy County.
That meant the threat had eased, but not disappeared completely. Conditions were still active enough to warrant attention, especially for people in areas that remained under the path of the storms.
Why the warning was issued
The severe thunderstorm warning followed the expiration of a tornado warning for the same part of South Texas. That sequence reflected the intensity of the storm system as it moved across Willacy and Kenedy counties.
Port Mansfield was among the areas near the storm’s track when the warning was in effect. The change from a tornado warning to a severe thunderstorm warning indicated that the immediate tornado threat had ended, while hazardous weather still lingered in the area.
Staying updated on changing weather
Fast-changing storm conditions can shift quickly from one warning level to another, especially along the coast. Local weather coverage emphasized the importance of checking updates through the KRGV FIRST WARN 5 Weather app, which provides alerts directly on a phone.
Residents were also encouraged to follow the KRGV First Warn 5 Weather team on Facebook and X for ongoing forecast and warning information as storms continued to move through the region.
Read more at: www.krgv.com
