Tornado lands in Beeville, damages 50 RVs

The National Weather Service has operated an office in Corpus Christi, Texas since 1887. It moved to property at the international airport in 1995. Chris Ramirez/Caller-Times

More than four dozen RVs were left damaged after a tornado made landfall in Beeville Sunday morning.

The National Weather Service Corpus Christi confirmed an EF-0 tornado, the weakest ranking in the Enhanced Fujita Scale, touched down on Chase Field at 7:24 a.m. and traveled about a half mile across the airport property.

About 50 unsecured recreational vehicles were damaged including 12 that were severely damaged or destroyed.

“Several hangers sustained roof damage with the asphalt roofing blown off onto the tarmac. Several mobile homes were also blown over,” weather officials posted on Facebook.

Meteorologist John Metz said the tornado came out of a squall line, which is a group of storms arranged in a line. The line of storms is usually accompanied by squalls of heavy rain and high winds, and occur ahead of a cold front.

The squall line was more than 100 miles, stretching from San Antonio to South Texas, Metz said.

Metz said the weak tornado lasted about one minute.

“It was fast moving and made a brief touchdown,” Metz said. “It doesn’t take long.”

According to weather officials, the estimated peak winds of the tornado reached 85 mph.

No injuries or deaths were reported. National Weather Service officials are investigating the tornado landing and will continue to assess damage, Metz said.

What to do during a tornado

The National Weather Service offers tips on tornado safety.

The safest place to be is an underground shelter, basement or safe room. Cover your head with your arms, a mattress, or a heavy blanket.
If no underground shelter is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.
Stay away from windows
Do not seek shelter in a hallway or bathroom of a mobile home. If you have access to a sturdy shelter or a vehicle, abandon your mobile home immediately.
If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter in a basement, shelter, or sturdy building.
Highway overpasses are not necessarily the safest outdoor place to be. Instead, seek a sturdy shelter or lie flat on the ground and cover your head with your arms.
Never drive directly toward a tornado or in the vicinity of a tornado. Any tornado can change direction or speed quickly and put you at risk. Drive at right angles away from the tornado or get out of your vehicle and seek shelter immediately.