Power Outage in Elgin, TX

The Elgin tornado began roughly 9 miles southwest of Elgin near Dry Creek Road and Union Lee Church Road. It moved northeast and crossed into Bastrop County near the end of Ingrid Dr. The tornado moved northeast crossing Upper Elgin River Rd., Balch Rd., Youngs Prairie Rd., and Crooked Hollow Rd. Significant damage was observed through this region to many homes. This included the destruction of multiple mobile homes, significant roof damage to numerous slab homes, two homes having their second story destroyed, numerous large tree limbs, tree trunks, and power poles snapped, barns destroyed, and a large electrical transmission tower toppled. Pockets of high-end EF-2 damage occurred through this region. The tornado continued northeast, crossing Monkey Rd., FM 1704, Hwy 95, and U.S. 290 producing damage to roofs of slab homes, mobile homes, trees, and power poles. Damage through this region was generally rated EF-1. As the tornado reached U.S. 290 it produced significant damage to a metal framed business, buckling the roof purlins and collapsing in the south facing wall. The tornado then rolled an adjacent mobile home into and partially on top of the south facing wall of another metal framed business. Three individuals in the mobile home were injured. Damage to the business and mobile home was on the order of high-end EF-1 to low-end EF-2. As the tornado crossed U.S. 290 a moving pickup truck was rolled onto its side, spun around 360 degrees, and rolled back upright where the driver continued down the road. Several power poles were also damaged along U.S. 290. As the tornado continue northeast a mobile home was completely destroyed off Old McDade Rd. From there the tornado gradually weakened and dissipated roughly 3 miles east-northeast of Elgin, near the intersection of FM 3000 and Mundine Rd. Damage was reported to 109 residences and one business. Of those, 32 residences were classified as major damage and 20 residences and one business were reported as destroyed. Peak wind speed was estimated at 130 mph.

The Elgin tornado began roughly 9 miles southwest of Elgin near Dry Creek Road and Union Lee Church Road. It moved northeast and crossed into Bastrop County near the end of Ingrid Dr. The tornado moved northeast crossing Upper Elgin River Rd., Balch Rd., Youngs Prairie Rd., and Crooked Hollow Rd. Significant damage was observed through this region to many homes. This included the destruction of multiple mobile homes, significant roof damage to numerous slab homes, two homes having their second story destroyed, numerous large tree limbs, tree trunks, and power poles snapped, barns destroyed, and a large electrical transmission tower toppled. Pockets of high-end EF-2 damage occurred through this region. The tornado continued northeast, crossing Monkey Rd., FM 1704, Hwy 95, and U.S. 290 producing damage to roofs of slab homes, mobile homes, trees, and power poles. Damage through this region was generally rated EF-1. As the tornado reached U.S. 290 it produced significant damage to a metal framed business, buckling the roof purlins and collapsing in the south facing wall. The tornado then rolled an adjacent mobile home into and partially on top of the south facing wall of another metal framed business. Three individuals in the mobile home were injured. Damage to the business and mobile home was on the order of high-end EF-1 to low-end EF-2. As the tornado crossed U.S. 290 a moving pickup truck was rolled onto its side, spun around 360 degrees, and rolled back upright where the driver continued down the road. Several power poles were also damaged along U.S. 290. As the tornado continue northeast a mobile home was completely destroyed off Old McDade Rd. From there the tornado gradually weakened and dissipated roughly 3 miles east-northeast of Elgin, near the intersection of FM 3000 and Mundine Rd. Damage was reported to 109 residences and one business. Of those, 32 residences were classified as major damage and 20 residences and one business were reported as destroyed. Peak wind speed was estimated at 130 mph.

A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 75 mph that damaged numerous power poles and blew down power lines near the intersection of Hwy 71 and FM 153 at Buescher State Park near Smithville.

A number of places in Fayette, Lavaca, and Bastrop Counties received 20 or more inches of rain. Tropical storm force winds with estimated gusts up to 60 mph caused damage across the region. Trees and branches were knocked down by the winds. Some of these in turn knocked down power lines causing power outages. 100 People were evacuated in Bastrop County. Rainfall over the far western side of Bastrop County was about 12 inches, while the Smithville area had a 7 day rain total of nearly 24 inches. The Colorado River at Smithville crested near 32 feet on August 28, flooding about 60 homes in the Smithville area. There were about 150 low water crossings underwater and many roads were damaged. Overall estimates to damage in the county are about 1.5 million dollars, about a million of that coming from damage to roads and bridges.

Hurricane Harvey moved onshore as a Category 4 hurricane over San Jose Island east of Rockport during the late evening of August 25th. Harvey moved inland entering southern DeWitt County during the morning of August 26th as a Category 1 hurricane. It continued to weaken as it moved farther inland eventually reaching south central Gonzales County as a tropical storm during the late evening of August 26th. The center of the storm made a loop through Gonzales, Karnes, and DeWitt Counties before exiting our County Warning Area during the afternoon of August 27th moving into Victoria County. ||A number of places in Fayette, Lavaca, and Bastrop Counties received 20 or more inches of rain. Tropical storm force winds with estimated gusts up to 60 mph caused damage across the region. Trees and branches were knocked down by the winds. Some of these in turn knocked down power lines causing power outages. 100 People were evacuated in Bastrop County. Rainfall over the far western side of Bastrop County was about 12 inches, while the Smithville area had a 7 day rain total of nearly 24 inches. The Colorado River at Smithville crested near 32 feet on August 28, flooding about 60 homes in the Smithville area. There were about 150 low water crossings underwater and many roads were damaged. Overall estimates to damage in the county are about 1.5 million dollars, about a million of that coming from damage to roads and bridges.

A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 75 mph that blew down trees and power lines in Elgin.

A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 70 mph knocked down multiple power poles and damaged some trees and roofs across the southern part of Elgin.

A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 70 mph that blew out windows of a few houses and knocked out power.

A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 55 mph that blew a large tree into power lines knocking out power to the area.

The Bastrop County Complex Wildfire started on September 4 behind Tropical Storm Lee and a cold front that brought strong northerly winds. The peak wind at Austin Bergstrom International Airport was 36 mph. The fire was not completely contained at the end of the month and had burned 34,068 acres. It destroyed 1669 homes and 40 commercial buildings. Two people were killed by the fire. This fire destroyed more homes than any other single fire in Texas history. These totals include the acreage and destruction from the Union Chapel fire. The fire started in two separate locations just to the north of the city of Bastrop and quickly grew to one fire, destroying much of the Bastrop State Park. Investigation concluded that the fire started as a result of downed powerlines.

A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 60 mph which moved a porch away from a house, downed power lines, and knocked over a couple of trees.

Light freezing rain and drizzle were first reported near 8 am on the morning of January 15. By mid afternoon, accumulations of ice were near one-half inch in many locations and roads and bridges were being closed through the following day. The storm caused power outages to around 1500 persons, mostly in the Bastrop area. Offices, businesses, and schools remained closed through January 16.