Power Outage in Abernathy, TX

A downburst traveled easterly across southern Hale County accompanied by wind gusts near 70 mph. These winds damaged 12 power poles just northeast of Abernathy that proceeded to disrupt power to much of the city for nearly 18 hours. Later, these storms produced a wind gust to 59 mph at 0035 CST as measured by a Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet station northeast of Abernathy.

Hale County officials reported that numerous power lines were blown down by thunderstorm winds in Seth Ward. Damaging winds continued to accompany the convective complex southward across the county. Around 20:00 CST, winds estimated to approach 80 mph caused significant damage to two businesses near Interstate 27 in Abernathy. The roof was completely blown off of one industrial size metal structure, while another sustained partial roof loss. Subsequent wind and water damage inside the fully exposed building led to a total loss of that facility. No injuries were reported, but more than 5,200 homes and businesses were reportedly without utility power following the storm.

A linear complex of thunderstorms produced a destructive swath of damaging winds across much of Hale County during the evening hours of the 24th. Damage was initially reported in the city of Plainview, where a number of large trees and power lines were blown down just before 20:00 CST. One tree was blown onto a house, and caused minor structural damage. A Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site near Plainview recorded a peak gust of 65 mph.||The swath of wind damage continued to accompany the storms southward across the county. Fifty utility poles were broken south of Hale Center. Some of the poles were snapped near the ground just east of Interstate 27 along Farm to Market Road 37. Damage to the wooden poles suggest significantly strong wind speeds may have occurred in the area. By 20:15 CST, 60 mph winds were recorded by the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet just northeast of Abernathy.

Strong thunderstorm wind snapped at least nine power poles on Farm-to-Market Road 179.