Reported twister knocks out VIA control tower; Hidalgo County hit hard

HARLINGEN - A reported twister knocked out the air-traffic control tower at Valley International Airport, according to an airport employee that refused to give his name.

"There is glass all over the place," he said. "The control tower in Corpus Christi is temporarily controlling aircraft. There is no danger to aircraft or their passengers."

And while many cities in Cameron and Hidalgo County had nearly two inches of rain and considerable damage, there was barely a trace in Brownsville according to the National Weather Service.

Meanwhile, Harlingen city and power company crews were busy picking up debris and repairing lines after a line of thunderstorms brought high winds, some reportedly to 80 mph, to northern Cameron County and Willacy County at about 4 a.m. today.

However, the storm did most of its damage in Hidalgo County.

The high winds wiped out power for hundreds and blew over several mobile homes at a trailer park near FM roads 681 and 1925, said Tony Peña, Hidalgo County Emergency Management Coordinator.

"We got damage all over the area," Peña said. "We don't have any fatalities. We do have multiple injuries."

At least one woman was taken to the hospital this morning after the winds apparently blew her out of her mobile home, Pena said.

In Harlingen, trees on Pierce and Sixth streets were dropped by the windstorm, while at least one street light was knocked off from its perch on Loop 499.

At Marine Military Academy, there are reports of a fence being blowned down and a transformer ripped from a pole.

There are unconfirmed reports of a twister in the Santa Rosa area off of Coco Road and that a La Yescas-area home's roof caved in.

Some corn fields suffered slight damage.

By 6:30 a.m. the storms had moved into the Gulf of Mexico and all severe weather warnings had been lifted.

Rio Grande Valley residents can expect more rain as the National Weather Service predicts a 40 percent chance of rain for the rest of the day, with the probability climbing to 50 percent tonight.

Expect more rain on Saturday and Sunday with probabilties at 50 and 20 percent, respectively.

The NWS says rain totals in Cameron County included:

Brownsville - trace
South Padre Island - 1.02
Santa Rosa - 1.32
Harlingen Co-op - 1.35
Valley International Airport in Harlingen - 1.97