Public Lecture Series 2026

On November 1st, 2025, a series of exceptionally powerful thunderstorms swept across the Texas Coastal Bend producing historic hail. This presentation explores the anatomy of these supercell storms, beginning with a foundational overview of how moisture, instability, and lift converge to create thunderstorms. We will examine the critical atmospheric differences that distinguish ordinary pulse storms from the long-lived, supercells capable of producing severe weather. The core of this case study reviews the specific meteorological setup of the Nov.1st event, detailing the unique confluence of a stalled front and steep mid-level lapse rates that primed the region for 3-inch hail. Beyond the atmospheric setup, we will investigate the storm's devastating ground-level impact. While property damage was extensive, the ecological toll was unprecedented; the storm struck critical rookery islands, resulting in a bird mortality event that has now claimed nearly 2,000 lives. By analyzing the physical damage and the tragic impact on local brown pelican and shorebird populations, this talk highlights the vulnerability of our coastal ecosystems to increasingly erratic and extreme weather events.