Millions in Damage Claims Expected from South Texas Storm

Hurricane force winds, heavy rains and baseball size hail struck the northern part of McAllen on March 29 causing extensive damage to homes, cars and businesses. The damage is expected to be in the tens of millions of dollars in insured losses. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Brownsville said the storm produced a tremendous down draft of wind that in its wake left “a war zone.” Barry Goldsmith, warning coordination meteorologist for the NWS, said the storm had peak wind gusts of 75 mph and frequent gusts above 50 mph accompanied by hail up to three inches in diameter.