Severe thunderstorm warnings issued for Val Verde County, golf ball hail threatens Del Rio

Golf ball-sized hail and 50 mph wind gusts put Del Rio in the crosshairs Thursday as the National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio office issued multiple severe thunderstorm warnings for Val Verde County and tracked storms moving toward the county seat.

The warnings mattered because hail was the main threat. The National Weather Service issues a severe thunderstorm warning when severe storms are happening or imminent, with hail of 1 inch or larger or wind gusts of 58 mph or higher. In this case, the hail threat met the warning threshold even though the forecast wind speed stayed below the standard 58 mph cutoff, underscoring the risk to windshields, roofs, parked cars and anyone caught outside in Del Rio.

Storm coverage across South Texas widened the concern throughout the afternoon and evening window, with the Del Rio area included in the hail risk. Local weather products for Val Verde County continued to reference thunderstorms and heavy rainfall potential, keeping the region on alert even after the most intense warnings were issued.

The danger was not theoretical. A hail report near Del Rio on April 29 measured 1.75 inches, or golf ball size, and a separate report in the area logged 1.00 inch hail. That storm track showed severe weather reaching the Del Rio vicinity before the April 30 warnings, a reminder that the next round could hit the same neighborhoods, roads and business districts again.

Del Rio International Airport, the local observation point highlighted in National Weather Service products, sat inside the area of concern. That made the warnings especially relevant for airport operations, commuter traffic and families trying to decide whether to leave home, pick up children or delay travel across Val Verde County.

The National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio office also relies on its Integrated Warning Team during hazardous weather, coordinating with emergency managers, broadcasters, amateur radio network controllers, government and special district officials, and NWS staff. That network is meant to move fast when hail and strong winds threaten a community like Del Rio, where a single storm can damage vehicles, interrupt road travel and leave lasting repair bills behind.