Power Outage in Amarillo, TX

Power line reported down at 58th and I-27.

A power line was reported down.

Report received of power poles blown down.

Broken power poles were reported along with tree limbs around 3 in diameter were broken off of trees.

A combination sleet and freezing rain led to light ice accumulations which caused hazardous driving conditions the morning of Monday, October 26th. Isolated sleet accumulaitons just under 1/2 inch occurred in a narrow band across the county. During the evening of the 27th freezing rain and sleet fell across the county with ice accumulations of 0.25 to 0.3 inches accretions being measured across the southeast corner of the county. During the evening of the 28th another round of wintry precipitation dropped 4 to 8 inches of new wet and heavy snow accumulations across the county. The highest amounts of 6 to 8 inches were located along and just north of I-40. With ice accumulations already existing on trees and powerline the combination of wind gusts to 45 mph together with the new snow caused downed tree limbs and power lines in some areas of the county with scattered power outages. School and business delays an closures occurred at verious times throughout the multiple day event.

Downed power lines and fence blown over at loop 335 and Amarillo BLVD in northeast Amarillo.

Broken tree limbs of at least 4 inches in diameter on the ground and hanging from a tree, in-between persons driveway and neighbor���s driveway. Several other branches and uprooted trees exist across the neighborhood. Entire neighborhood lost power between 830 pm and 1 am.

Travel trailer damaged...fences blown over...power lines blown down and metal sheds destroyed due to thunderstorm wind gusts.

Strong winds brought trees and power lines down in Amarillo. This led to power outages in the downtown area with several transformers reportedly going out.

Power lines reported down.

Dual power poles snapped due to damaging wind from a thunderstorm.

Trees and power lines down on Mirror Street between NE 20th and NE 24th avenues.

The tornado began just west of Highway 136 in extreme eastern Potter County. Storm chasers witnessed the tornado form and cross the highway. One power pole was snapped along Highway 136 which was consistent with EF1 Damage. The tornado then continued into Carson County and produced damage just across the county line which was consistent with EF-2 on the Fujita Tornado Damage Scale. This damage occurred along County Road 1342 where a well anchored double wide mobile home was completely rolled and damaged. A nearby home had portions of the metal roof removed and the chimney crumbled over. A concrete block garage was also destroyed. Trees near the homes were snapped at the trunk. The tornado continued east and moved to near County Road C before dissipating.

A 68 mph wind gust was measured at the Automated Surface Observing Station at the Amarillo airport. Power lines were reported down across the city by emergency management.

Several trees were blown down and one power line was downed on Cliffside from 7000 block to Soncy.

A power pole was blown down at 4th and Birmingham in Amarillo.

Two power poles were blown over near Central Avenue and Buck Street in North Amarillo.

Thunderstorms formed along a dryline stretching east-northeastward across Randall and Potter Counties during the afternoon hours of the 28th. These thunderstorms would take a northeast track which allowed them to move over the dryline. This caused the thunderstorms to produce isolated downbursts across the city. One such downburst blew down powerlines in the fairgrounds area of Amarillo (Potter County). The thunderstorm decayed quickly after moving to the dry side of the dryline due to ingesting much drier air into the updrafts. No injuries were associated with this gust.

Thunderstorms formed along a dryline stretching east-northeastward across Randall and Potter Counties during the afternoon hours of the 28th. These thunderstorms would take a northeast track which allowed them to move over the dryline. This caused the thunderstorms to produce isolated downbursts across the city. One such thunderstorm produced a downburst which snapped two power poles at the intersection of Washington Street and Farmers Road (Randall County). The Amarillo Emergency Manager (Potter and Randall County) relayed the report of damage and the Amarillo Police department were deployed to block off traffic in that area. The thunderstorm decayed quickly after moving to the dry side of the dryline due to ingesting much drier air into the updrafts. No injuries were associated with this gust.

A supercell thunderstorm that developed along a retreating dryline in Deaf Smith and Oldham Counties tracked to the northeast across the southern Texas Panhandle. This supercell produced baseball size hail as it moved across the southern portion of Bushland (Randall County). The hail caused damage to structures and damaged power transformers which put off power flashes that the Bushland Emergency Manager reported. The supercell continued traveling in a northeastern direction which took it away from Bushland.

The public reported 0.05 inches of ice, and power outages along FM 2575 east of Amarillo due to ice on power lines.

The outflow produced from a line of thunderstorms across both Potter and Randall County blew power lines and power poles over on the northeast side of Loop 335 in Amarillo (Potter County).

Thunderstorm wind gusts caused a power outage around the 45th Avenue and Western Street area. There were no injuries or fatalities.

There was about a half a dozen power lines and poles that were blown down about two miles southeast of Amarillo. There was also some minor wind damage along Interstate 27.

There was a report of a few power poles being blown down near the intersection of Western Street and Olsen Boulevard in Amarillo Texas. No injuries were reported.

The Amarillo Emergency Manager reported that power lines were blown down near Hastings Avenue and U.S. Highway 287 in Amarillo Texas.

The Amarillo Emergency Manager reported that power poles had blown down at the intersection of 34th Avenue and Jackson Street in Amarillo Texas.

An off-duty National Weather Service employee ten miles east of Amarillo estimated thunderstorm wind gusts of fifty-two knots and reported that the power was also out.

The Amarillo Emergency Manager reported that four power poles had been blown down at Osage Street and 58th Avenue due to thunderstorm wind gusts estimated to be fifty-two knots.

The public reported that thunderstorm wind gusts of fifty-six knots knocked out power on the southwest side of Amarillo.

A trained spotter reported that thunderstorm wind gusts...estimated to be around fifty-six knots...blew down some power lines at 45th Avenue and Western Street.

An off-duty National Weather Service employee reported that power was out in the area. Also...roads were covered with water from Western Street to Bell Street and that the water was flowing over the curbs and into resident's yards.

The broadcast media reported that power lines and traffic lights had been blown down near Georgia Street just south of 34th Avenue.

The Amarillo Emergency Manager reported downed power lines near the downtown Post Office in Amarillo.

The Amarillo Emergency Manager reported downed power lines at the intersection of the Claude Highway and Washington Street in Amarillo.

The broadcast media relayed several reports of fifty-two to fifty-six knot wind gusts in Amarillo along with power lines and trees blown down.

The Amarillo Emergency Management Office relayed numerous reports of widespread wind damage throughout the entire city. Tree limbs were reported to be blown down and were blocking some roadways...power lines were blown down...and many roofs had been blown off local businesses. No injuries were reported.

The Amarillo Department of Emergency Management reported that numerous power lines were down in parts of south Amarillo.

Roofs were torn off of mobile homes and power lines were blown down by the strong winds in Valle de Oro northwest of Amarillo.

Sixty-nine knot non-thunderstorm wind gust recorded at Tradewind Airport one mile south of Amarillo.Sixty-one knot non-thunderstorm wind gust reported twelve miles south of Amarillo. Two power poles blown down by sixty-one knot non-thunderstorm wind gust five miles north of Amarillo.

Power lines down along with a barn blown over.

A strong upper level system moved through the combined Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles starting on the 21st and ending on the 22nd. This system brought precipitation in the form of rain and snow, and high winds. Winds were anywhere from 20 to 45 mph sustained, with gusts up to 64 mph. The night of the 21st, temperatures dropped to around 30 to 34 degrees Fahrenheit. Many areas stayed just above freezing with snow being very wet and heavy, which made it hard to be blown around by the wind but the snow stuck in tree branches and power lines leading to some damage and power outages mainly along portions of I-40 and along Highway 60 from Amarillo northeastward. There was a small corridor just south of the Canadian River Valley where 6 to 9 inches of snow fell by the morning of the 22nd.

A potent storm system raced across Colorado and Kansas through the day, causing strong to extreme southwest to west winds across the area, but especially across the northern Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. By mid-morning, winds were already gusting to well over 60 mph across the northwest half of the Panhandles. Wind gusts were measured at 70 to 90 mph by observation sites during the peak of the wind event which occurred between 11 am and 3 pm. Sustained winds ranged from 40 to 50 mph during this period and some site briefly measured sustained winds close to 60 mph. These winds led to damage to trees, powerlines, and roofs in areas where strongest winds occurred. In addition, there were several reports of semi trucks being overturned over in the area. Blowing dust caused widespread visibilities of 1 to 3 miles and there were reports of localized visibilities of less than a 1/4 mile that led to several additional major accidents in the area, which led to road closures. The combination of high winds, ongoing drought, and very dry conditions also led to 6 or more wildfires across the area which was on the southern end of a significant wildfire outbreak that extended well into Kansas. Three of the fires in the Panhandles were classified as significant wildfires as they raced uncontrolled across the landscape. The Parker Creek Fire (7000 acres as of Dec 16th) started in northwest Oldham county, briefly threatened the city of Channing in southeast Hartley County and crossed into southwest Moore County before being contained with the help of agricultural barriers. The Cobb fire (7,987 acres as of Dec 16) started in Texas County and raced east threatening Guymon, prompting evacuations and the issuance of Fire Warnings for the west side of the city before being controlled. The North 207 Fire (15,000 acres as of Dec 16th) started along Highway 207 in northern Carson County between Borger and Panhandle. This fire raced east, moved across a canyon area, and threatened Skellytown, prompting evacuations and the issuance of Fire Warnings. This fire finally slowed its progress near the Pampa Airport and Wayside as winds subsided in the evening.

A vigorous low pressure system crossed the plains during the overnight hours ushering a strong front through the area. The combination of rapidly deepening low to the east and high pressure surging into the area in its wake led to a prolonged period of severe winds across the area. Sustained winds reached 40 to 50 mph and some areas saw gusts of 60 mph or more. Some isolated damage and power outages occurred due to the winds.

A weak upper level disturbance moved along the northern side of an upper level ridge centered across the Desert Southwest generating thunderstorms over the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico. These storms slowly moved east into the Panhandles and encountered an environment with weak to moderate wind shear but extreme instability and high moisture which allowed these storms to thrive and increase in severity and organization as they tracked east. The main impact from the storms were from damaging winds as they crossed out of New Mexico and Colorado into the Panhandles, but some hail was also reported. The most significant damage occurred with a storm that strongly bowed as it moved southeast across Cimarron County Oklahoma. This storm produced wind speeds likely around 90 mph in some locations based on damage and were measured just shy of 80 mph near Boise City, OK at a mesonet site. The storm produced widespread wind damage from Kenton to Boise city and southeast to Griggs, OK. Widespread damage to trees and powerlines occurred and isolated significant roof damage occurred as well, including the Boise City High School auditorium, which lost part of it's roof completely. Fifty-five power poles were reported damaged across Cimarron County with around 1600 customers without power during the peak outage after the storms. Power was out until well into the afternoon hours on Sunday for some locations. This storm continued to grow upscale and eventually merged across the northwestern Texas Panhandle with another broken line of storms that had crossed the New Mexico border near I-40, also producing severe wind gusts as they entered the Texas Panhandle. This storm complex tracked east-southeast and continued to produce severe wind gusts and heavy rainfall, especially across the northern and central Texas Panhandle. The storm complex finally weakened early Sunday morning as instability decreased.

A slow moving upper level storm system contributed to development of severe storms for a third consecutive day as it moved east to the Four Corners region by May 17th. With the system drawing nearer, wind shear and instability increased from what occurred with the previous days events and so did storm organization and strength. A line of thunderstorms that developed near a surface trough in New Mexico moved into the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles in the late afternoon and evening hours. Several storms produced severe hail and wind especially across the southern Texas Panhandle. A few very powerful storms produced hail in excess of 2 inches in diameter and there was also a breif, weak tornado reported in open country across the southwest Texas Pahandle.

A dynamic storm system brought high winds and a heavy wet snow on the 17th of March 2021. This combination lead to blizzard conditions in some areas and near blizzard conditions in others. Travel was impacted area wide and isolated power outages were reported. Some areas got well above 6 inches of snow with drifts of one to two feet. The day prior this same system produced severe thunderstorms capable of one inch diameter hail and wind gusts well over 60 mph in the eastern Texas Panhandle.

A historic outbreak of arctic air resulted in record breaking cold temperatures during an extreme cold spell that lasted almost two weeks for some locations across the combined Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. The cold air moved over the northeastern combined Panhandles as early as Feb 8th, and spread southwest through Feb 12th, engulfing most of the southern plains by Feb 13th. The northeast Panhandles remained below freezing for 12 days straight while the southwest Panhandles were below freezing for a full week or more. Periods of flurries and freezing fog also occurred mainly in the overnight and morning periods almost each day Feb 8th through Feb 18th. In addition, two storm systems interacted with the arctic air to produce several inches of snow, not only across the Panhandles but across most of the Great Plains, including almost the entire state of Texas and surrounding states. ||The frigid arctic air would put a strain on area power grids, resulting in rotating blackouts for some locations (this was much worse for other portions of Texas due to a state��wide power crises felt most on the ERCOT power grid). The extreme cold also caused multiple indirect fatalities in the Texas Panhandle and led to school closings due to winter weather and/or the Texas energy crises that required measures to strongly limit energy consumption. The cold also halted plant operations due to issues with natural gas fuel, killed some livestock and also caused localized damage to residences and schools due to freezing water pipes. There were isolated reports of private water wells freezing up across the area. In addition, several municipal water wells in the southeast Texas Panhandle froze up and sustained damage (Donley County) during this time. There was also reported damage to water treatment facilities in Oldham County.||While local impacts in the Panhandle were less than the rest of Texas because the region's infrastructure is more built to handle major cold outbreaks, losses in the state of Texas were estimated to be well into the billions. Impacts from the power disruptions and natural gas fuel issues caused by the cold were certainly felt well outside of the worst hit areas and this included the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. For example, local dairy production was halted for a period of time because the processing plants located outside the Panhandles were without power and unable to operate. Farmers were forced to dispose of milk produced during this timeframe. Damage outside the Panhandles to the southeast was extensive due to power interruptions within the ERCOT power grid which led to numerous broken pipes and damages down state in Texas. These greater disruptions impacted the far southeast Texas Panhandle, which was the only area that was included on the ERCOT power grid at the time.

A record cold arctic air mass for late October moved across the high plains on Sunday, October 25th as a major winter storm slowly developed over the Desert Southwest. This combination led to a light wintry precipitation episode early Monday morning and then two to three additional significant wintry precipitation episodes from Monday night through early Thursday morning. The initial heavier precipitation event on Monday night included a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain in the central and eastern Panhandles with heavy snow across portions of the northern Panhandles. Impacts from this first event were mainly poor travel conditions due to icy roads which led to numerous school and business delays and closures. Most of the freezing rain came from the second precipitation episode Tuesday night into early Wednesday across the southeast Texas Panhandle when �� to ����� ice accumulations occurred. Additional sleet and snow accumulations occurred further west where deeper cold air existed. This again led to significant travel issues, but also caused numerous power outages and tree damage in areas hardest hit by ice, with the majority of several counties left without power for multiple days. One final precipitation episode occurred as the main storm system crossed Texas just south of the Texas Panhandle Wednesday night into early Thursday morning. This precipitation fell in the form of rain across the northern Panhandles and the southeast Texas Panhandle where temperatures had managed to increase into the mid 30s, but heavy snow occurred in the central and southwest Texas Panhandle where temperatures remained in the low 30s. The combination of windy conditions and heavy snow, with rates of over 2 inches per hour at times, led to treacherous travel due to poor visibility and rapid snow accumulations on roadways. With trees and powerlines still heavy due to ice from previous freezing rain events, strong winds and heavy wet snow led to additional power outages. Snow and ice melted rapidly off roadways on Thursday and travel greatly improved by midday.

An upper level disturbance high instability and moderate wind shear led to severe storm development across the Texas Panhandle. The strongest storm produced a swath of thunderstorm wind damage around 2 miles wide and 4 miles long occurred along the Fritch Highway near Webb Rd. Damage within the area included numerous broken or leaning power poles, downed power lines and damage to roofs, porches, and awnings at local residences, especially those facing west. In addition, many large tree limbs in the area were snapped and some out outbuildings and old barns in the area were destroyed. One single wide trailer was pushed off its blocks. Damage was consistent with straight line winds. All while this was going some places in north Amarillo saw large hail up to 1.75 inches in diameter and even some areas of accumulating hail up to 5 inches.

The Tank Battery wildfire began around 1426CST about sixteen miles west northwest of Pantex or fifteen miles east of Valley De Ordo Texas in Potter County. The wildfire consumed a measured eight hundred and fifty acres. The wildfire was caused by downed power lines. There was a report of one structure that was threatened by the wildfire and was saved, however no homes or other structures were damaged or lost by the wildfire. There were also no reports of any injuries or fatalities. The Amarillo Fire Department, Potter County Fire-Rescue. Turnersville VFD, and the Texas A&M Forest Service responded to the wildfire. The wildfire was contained around 1700CST on June 13 and was finally brought under control around 1700CST on June 14.

A deepening closed upper low over the Great Basin region tracked east across the central Rockies. This caused a surface low over the central Rockies to deepen rapidly by mid to late morning. Very strong southwesterly to westerly winds started as early as late morning, and peaked in the late afternoon to early evening. Highest wind gust recorded was 67 MPH just 2 miles NW of Lake McClellan. Power poles were reported to be downed in other areas, so higher gusts are certainly possible. In addition to multiple 60+ MPH wind gusts, there were several 40+ MPH sustained winds observed.

A strong surface low pressure system developed over western Kansas during the day on the 13th. Areas south of the surface low across the Panhandles, due to the low pressure system rapidly intensifying, experienced very strong westerly and southwesterly winds. Many areas reported high sustained winds and wind gusts throughout the day with some gusts around 80 MPH. As a result, wind damage was reported including semis being overturned across the Panhandles. This also included a local media source stating at one point 22,000 customers were without power across the Texas Panhandle due to the strong winds.

The Ninth Avenue Wildfire began about six miles east of Bushland Texas in Potter County around 1758CST. The wildfire was caused by downed power lines and burned towards northwest Amarillo which resulted in the Amarillo Medical District being threatened with evacuations being ordered. There were no reports of any injuries or fatalities. There were fifty homes and twenty-six other structures that were threatened by the wildfire but were saved. There were no reports of any homes or other structures damaged or destroyed by the wildfire. The wildfire consumed an estimated four hundred acres. There were a total of fourteen fire departments and other fire agencies that responded to the wildfire including the Texas A&M Forest Service. The resources assigned included a TFS taskforce and a TIFMAS engine strike team. The wildfire was contained around 0600CST on March 19.

The Old Muddy Road Wildfire began about nineteen and a half miles northwest of Amarillo Texas in Potter County around 1815CST. The wildfire was caused by downed power lines and consumed four thousand and four hundred and eighty acres. There was a report of twenty homes threatened and thirteen homes destroyed by the wildfire. There were also forty other structures threatened and ten other structures destroyed. There were no reports of any injuries or fatalities. There were a total of nine fire departments and other fire agencies that responded to the wildfire including the Texas A&M Forest Service. The resources assigned included two TFS taskforces, two TIFMAS engine strike teams, two heavy air tankers, lead plane and an aerial supervision platform. The wildfire was contained around 1100CST and 1200CST on March 19.

An upper level disturbance working SE out of southern Colorado would eventually be the catalyst for linear thunderstorms later on in the evening. In the mid afternoon hours on the 6th, a very small window early in the event allowed for supercell formation with SBCAPE of around 3000 J/Kg and MUCAPE of around 1000 J/kg/ Although 850-700 hPa moisture axis across the central Panhandles was prevalent, storms did have a tough time breaking through the cap with the main mid level forcing being back to the west near upper level trough in CO and north near the cold front in southern Kansas. However, with daytime heating, a few cells developed and produced some hail up to half dollar size. Eventually as the main upper level piece of energy moved SE across the Panhandles in-conjunction with the cold front moving south provided enough lift for a line of storms to develop with several damaging wind to powerlines and severe wind gusts reported.

A cold front moved through the Texas Panhandle on the night of the 25th resulting in a layer of shallow cold air across the area on the 26th. A strong storm system approached from the west bringing moisture and relatively warm air atop the cold shallow layer. This is an optimal setup for freezing rain and sleet. Amounts ranged from around a quarter of an inch of ice in the northwest Texas Panhandle to as much as an inch in the eastern Texas Panhandle. Roads became slick causing hazardous travel conditions. Some power outages occurred, especially in the southeastern portion s of the Panhandle where ice amounts were greatest.

A powerful storm system brought significant severe weather to the region. Tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail accompanied thunderstorms that formed during the afternoon hours and persisted into the evening. This was a very unusual event for late fall in the Central High Plains. One significant factor in this anomalous event was the presence of an unusual amount of moisture for mid-November, contributing to relatively high values of instability. No tornadoes had previously been documented in the Texas Panhandle during the month of November.

Severe thunderstorms brought large hail and damaging winds to mainly western portions of the Texas Panhandle on the evening of the 18th lasting into the early morning hours of the 19th. A line of thunderstorms moved across portions of Potter and Randall counties between 1:00 AM CDT and 3:00 AM CDT resulting in significant wind damage. The most significant winds occurred between Amarillo and Canyon and consisted of some damage to manufactured homes, power poles, and damage to vehicles from flying gravel and other debris. All of the evidence suggests that the damage occurred from straight line winds as high as 90 mph. Strong northeasterly winds after the storms passed reached 60 to 65 mph and resulted in some additional damage. These northeasterly winds behind the thunderstorms were likely associated with a wake low.

A very rare weather phenomenon occurred during the day of the 10th and brought one to four inches of snow to the south central Texas Panhandle. A cold and saturated air mass was already in place, with freezing fog and light flurries ongoing. Steam being released from several local industrial power plants provided additional moisture and condensation nuclei which enhanced snowfall. Narrow bands of enhanced snow production produced 3 to 4 inches of snow across and south of the city of Borger (Hutchinson and Carson counties) and 1 to 2 inches across the city of Amarillo (Randall and Potter counties). The enhanced snowfall ended by the early afternoon as steam production at the power plants diminished.

A wake low developed after a left moving supercell moved across the southern Texas Panhandle during the evening hours of the 20th. This wake low caused an extremely tight surface pressure gradient that allowed several non-thunderstorm related high wind gusts across the southern Texas Panhandle. These gusts ranged from 56 mph to 72 mph, and lasted from 730 PM CST to 10:50 PM CST. One such wind gust knocked out a transmission pole which caused near 7,600 Xcel Energy customers to be without power for several hours in Amarillo (Potter and Randall County), Canyon (Randall County), and Bushland (Potter County). The winds created low visibilities on Interstate 40 which was eventually closed from Farm-to-Market Road 1912 (Potter County) to Mile marker 88 in Carson County. An estimated 60 mph gust caused power poles to be blown down on Farm-to-Market Road 2186 and Hope Road in Amarillo (Randall County) at 8:00 PM CST. An estimated 65mph wind gust caused trees to be blown onto roads in the San Jacinto neighborhood in Amarillo (Potter County) at 9:00 PM CST. An estimated 67 mph wind gust around 9:15 PM CST blew a shed into an adjacent yard on the southwest side of Amarillo (Randall County). At 10:30 PM CST, and estimated 62 mph wind gusts blew a carport over in Groom (Carson County). Another wind gust in Carson County at 10:45PM CST caused a train derailment and a rollover accident involving a semi-tractor trailer at 10:50 PM CST. The gust which caused the train derailment was estimated to be 81 mph by a National Weather Service survey team, and caused 42 cars of the train to be overturned. No injuries or hazardous material release was reported in association to the train derailment, and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway crews worked through the night and into the following morning to erect the overturned cars. The gust which caused the train derailment continued to move southeast across the county and caused a rollover accident 16 miles southeast of Panhandle (Carson County) at 10:50 PM CST. By this point the gust had diminished to 60 mph. The driver of the semi-tractor trailer was injured due to the accident and was taken to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo (Potter County). After having the injuries treated, the driver was released from the hospital. By 11 PM CST, the wake low had diminished which prevented from any further high wind gusts from occurring. ||The following is a listing of the highest wind gust per location across the southern Texas Panhandle by county.|Randall:2 northeast of Lake Tanglewood 64 mph; 4 north-northwest of Lake Tanglewood 66 mph; 6 southwest of Amarillo 70 mph; 9 southwest of Amarillo 60 mph; 5 miles west-southwest of Amarillo 58 mph; 5 miles south-southwest of Amarillo 72 mph; 6 south-southwest of Amarillo 67 mph. |Potter: 6 miles east-northeast of Amarillo 61 mph; 5 miles west of Amarillo 67 mph; 2 miles west-northwest of Amarillo 65 mph; 1 miles west of Amarillo 62 mph; 6 miles west-northwest of Amarillo 62 mph; 6 miles west of Amarillo 63 mph; 3 miles northwest of Amarillo 65 mph.|Deaf Smith: 5 miles east-northeast of Hereford 69 mph.|Oldham: 2 miles east-southeast Wildorado 58 mph.|Carson: in Groom 62 mph; in Panhandle 81 mph; 16 miles southeast of Panhandle 60 mph.

A severe weather outbreak brought hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash flooding to the Panhandles from the afternoon of the 28th into the early morning hours of the 29th. The morning upper air analysis on the 28th showed a mid-level shortwave trough rotating around the base of a longwave trough situated from Idaho to Arizona. At the surface, a dryline was situated from the northeastern Oklahoma Panhandle to the southwestern Texas Panhandle. The 6 AM CST upper air sounding from Amarillo showed a low level capping inversion with significant elevated instability. Also deep layer shear was primed for the development of discrete supercells. On the 12 PM CST sounding, instability values had increased further. By noon, the northern portion of the dryline had moved into south central Kansas before stretching back into the southwestern Texas Panhandle. ||By the late afternoon, across Potter and Randall Counties, the dryline had advanced into the western portions of both counties allowing showers and thunderstorms, which moved northeastward along dryline, to produce damaging wind gusts in the Amarillo (Potter and Randall County) area. These thunderstorm wind gusts blew a communication tower and billboard down at the Texas Blue Lake Pools in Amarillo (Randall County). Also a main communication tower for High Plains Radio was damaged which ended the broadcast for several of their across the Texas Panhandle radio stations. The Amarillo Police Department blocked off an area near the intersection of Osage Road and SE 27th Ave due to downed power lines and debris. As the dryline moved into the eastern portions of Potter and Randall Counties during the early evening, thunderstorms over the Amarillo area were cut off from moist inflows and decayed quickly. The extremely dry near surface air evaporated precipitation from the decaying storms causing non-thunderstorm high winds across the Amarillo area. These high winds blew the roof off the River Road ISD field house (Randall County) and downed power lines across the city. Xcel Energy reported nearly 6500 people lost power from the combination of thunderstorm and non-thunderstorm wind gusts, and 4000 people would remain without power until the 29th as power lines and poles were repaired or replaced. ||During the late evening the dryline began to retreat westward as the nocturnal low level jet transported moisture from the Gulf of Mexico northwestward. As the dryline retreated across Oldham and Deaf Smith Counties, a near stationary discrete supercell formed and produced two short lived tornadoes in Deaf Smith County. These tornadoes formed over grasslands, and produced little damage. As the dryline continued to retreat to the west, the supercell took a northeastward track producing hail up to the size of hen eggs across Deaf Smith and Oldham Counties and produced several funnel clouds. ||The storm continued to produce large hail and funnel clouds as it moved into Potter and Randall Counties. This large hail broke out skylights, broke windshields, busted out windows of portables, and damaged work vehicles at schools within the Bushland (Randall County) ISD. As the supercell approached the western portion of Amarillo (Randall and Potter County) several members of the public reported funnel clouds. Video evidence of one such funnel cloud showed the cloud lowering near to the ground, but no physical evidence of a touchdown was able to be identified by National Weather Service survey teams. ||What this supercell did produce across Amarillo (Potter and Randall County) was copious amounts of destructive hail up to the size of baseballs and heavy rain. The City of Amarillo reported that 225 of its work vehicles had some form of hail damage with an estimated repair cost between $2000 and $8500. The City Building Safety Director reported approximately 75 percent of homes around the city suffered hail damage of varying degrees. The Amarillo Botanical Gardens suffered massive damage to plants across the four acre property totaling in thousands of dollars of damage. The hail also damaged a greenhouse in the rear portion of the property. The accumulation of hail and heavy rain also flooded the Garden���s gallery while the strong winds blew a portion of the perimeter fencing down. Gene Messer Ford and AutoNation Chevrolet-Cadillac reported between 300 and 400 vehicles damaged from the hail with Gene Messer Ford estimating the damage to be between 3 and 4 million dollars. The total estimated of repair cost across the city of Amarillo (Randall and Potter Counties) is near $400 million dollars which dwarfs the June 21, 2004 hail storm which cost the city $175 million dollars. ||The supercell continued traveling to the northeast entering into Carson County. Upon entering the county the supercell encountered an increasing unfavorable environment as the nocturnal inversion strengthened. However, before the dissipating the thunderstorm was able to produce quarter size hail in the city of Panhandle (Carson County). The remnants of the supercell proceeded to move to the northeast until dissipating over southern Kansas.

Several high wind gusts were observed between the afternoon hours of the 28th and the early morning hours of the 29th. A dryline was situated across the western portions of Potter and Randall Counties with storms east of this dryline. As the dryline moved into the east during the early evening, storms over the Amarillo area were cut off from moist inflows and decayed quickly. The extremely dry near surface air behind the dryline evaporated precipitation beneath these decaying storms leading to high winds from 5:15 PM CST to 6:26 PM CST across Potter County. The accelerated downward motion cause a sustain 58 mph wind and 71 mph gust at the Amarillo ASOS (Potter County), which was the second highest non-thunderstorm wind gust for the day. A resident 9 miles east of Amarillo (Potter County) reported a completely destroyed barn roof and a second damaged bar roof around the same time the 71 mph gust was reported by the Amarillo ASOS. On the north side of Amarillo (Potter County), a member of the public reported that the roof on a building next to the Dollar Tree on Amarillo Boulevard was lifted during a high wind gust. This gust was estimated to be near 64 mph. The KVII Schoolnet site at De Zavala Middle School (Potter County) reported a 63 mph gusts at 5:57 PM CST. The Amarillo Emergency Manager reported that the high winds blew the roof off the River Road ISD field house (Randall County) and downed power lines across the city. Xcel Energy reported nearly 6500 people lost power from the combination of thunderstorm and non-thunderstorm wind gusts on the 28th, and 4000 people would remain without power until the 29th as power lines and poles were repaired or replaced.|The outflow from decaying storms over Amarillo coupled with the retreating dryline to cause an isolated high wind gust in Dumas (Moore County). The Texas Department of Transportation AWOS reported a non-thunderstorm gust of 59 mph shortly before 9 PM CST. This same combination would lead to another non-thunderstorm gust in Perryton (Ochiltree County) around 2:18 AM CST. However, the decaying storm that approached the Perryton AWOS was the former supercell which brought a swath of hail up to baseball size from Deaf Smith County to Carson County. The collapse of that storm provided a much greater downward motion than what occurred in Dumas (Moore County), which is why it was the highest non-thunderstorm wind gust for the day at 78 mph. After this occurred, the nocturnal inversion strengthen sufficiently to prevent any further high wind gusts across the Texas Panhandle.

During the early morning hours of the 18th multiple high wind gusts were reported across the southern Texas Panhandle. Light showers formed across southwestern Randall County around 1:30 AM CST in response to a weak upper level trough moving northeastward out of New Mexico. However, the atmosphere below the cloud bases was extremely dry and evaporated precipitation prior to reaching the ground. Just before 2 AM CST, these virga showers moved over Palo Duro State Park (Randall County) where the accelerated downward motion caused by evaporation produced a 69 mph non-thunderstorm wind gust. This wind gust was measured by the West Texas Mesonet site in the park. The showers moved to the northeast into Potter County, and crossed over the Amarillo International Airport (Potter County). While over the airport, the showers produced another 69 mph wind gust at 2:32 AM CST, which was measured by the National Weather Service ASOS. The showers moved into Gray County by 4 AM CST, and began to show signs of diminishing. As the showers collapsed over Pampa (Gray County) they produced high winds, and a member of the public reported several small trees had become uprooted at 4:30 AM CST. With the showers diminished no further reports of high winds were received through the rest of the morning hours. ||Showers redeveloped during the afternoon hours of the 18th as a stronger upper trough across New Mexico and Colorado approached the Texas Panhandle. The dry sub-cloud layer was still in place, and caused precipitation from these showers to evaporate prior to reaching the ground. The strengthened downward motion produced high wind damage 19 miles south of the city of Perryton (Ochiltree County) at 4:33 PM CST. The Ochiltree Sheriff���s Office reported that power poles on US Highway 281 between County Road 70 and County Road 83 had been blown down onto the road. By 5:00 PM CST, the showers had moved east of Perryton before producing additional high wind damage. The Ochiltree Sherriff���s Office reported that power poles along US Highway 377 between Count Road 20 and County Road 21 had been blown down onto the road. By 5:15 PM CST, the showers had moved over the Texas Department of Transportation AWOS site east-northeast of Perryton where a 58 mph wind gust was measured. Shortly after producing this gust, the showers dissipated as storm outflows from the Oklahoma Panhandle eliminated the inflow for these showers.

A cold front moved across the Panhandles during the early afternoon hours on the 22nd. The cold post frontal air caused surface temperatures to drop below freezing shortly before midnight on the 23rd. At the same time, the entrance region of the jet stream moved into central Colorado. The lift provided by this jest stream was only sufficient to cause light freezing drizzle across the Texas Panhandle due to its location. The freezing drizzle continued for several hours causing ice buildups on elevated surfaces and power lines before ending during the morning of the 23rd. The combination of ice buildup and strong surface winds of 35 to 39 mph over several hours caused power lines in Pampa (Gray County), Darrouzett (Lipscomb County), Amarillo (Potter County), Borger (Hutchinson County), and Perryton (Ochiltree County) to snap. In Pampa (Gray County), power lines along State Highway 152 became covered in a layer of ice, snapped, and fell onto the highway. In Amarillo (Potter County), power outages were reported on FM 2575. As many as 10,000 people were without power according to an Xcel Energy report issued on the 23rd. They added that additional personnel from across the state of Texas were brought into the Panhandles to help restore power. While most locations had power restored by the afternoon of the 23rd, some people across Lipscomb County remained without power until the 24th. ||The following is a list of reported ice accumulations: 0.10 inches of ice was reported in Pampa (Gray County); 0.10 inches of ice was reported in Darrouzett (Lipscomb County); 0.05 inches of ice was reported 8 miles east northeast of Amarillo (Potter County); 0.10 inches of ice was reported in Borger (Hutchinson County); and 0.10 inches of ice was reported in Perryton (Ochiltree County).

The combination of a strong surface pressure gradient behind a cold front and strong winds aloft mixing to the surface, which caused a period of high winds across the southwestern Texas Panhandle during the afternoon of the 23rd. In Oldham County, a semi-tractor trailer on Interstate 40 east of the town of Wildorado (Oldham County) was blown over by an estimated non-thunderstorm wind gust of 65 MPH. In Deaf Smith County, several observations sites reported sustained winds of 45 MPH with the highest gust of 67 mph occurring at the West Texas Mesonet site at Bootleg (Deaf Smith County). These high winds blew a roof off of a mobile home in the southern part of the town of Hereford (Deaf Smith County), and the roof was blown into power lines causing several residents to lose power. In Randall County, an estimated wind gust of 60 mph downed small tree limbs and knocked out power for a portion of southwest Amarillo (Randall County). Also the KVII Schoolnet weather station at Lakeview Elementary in Timbercreek Canyon (Randall County) observed a 58 mph non-thunderstorm wind gust. In Potter County, high winds flipped a wooden shed in Bushland (Potter County) and blew a roof off of a trailer on the northwest side of Amarillo (Potter County). The Bushland KVII Schoolnet site reported a non-thunderstorm wind gust of 64 MPH, and a trained spotter measured a 61 MPH non-thunderstorm winds gust on the west side of Amarillo (Potter County). By 6 PM CDT, the surface pressure gradient had decreased sufficiently to bring an end to high winds for the southwestern Texas Panhandle. ||The following is a list of the highest non-thunderstorm wind gusts reported: 11 miles west northwest of Bootleg (Deaf Smith County) 67 MPH; 1 mile north northwest of Hereford (Deaf Smith County) 59 MPH; 2 miles west northwest of Hereford (Deaf Smith County) 61 MPH; 1 mile east of Wildorado (Oldham County) 65 MPH; 5 miles west southwest of Amarillo (Randall County) 60 MPH; 2 miles north of Canyon (Randall County) 59 MPH; 5 miles east northeast Hereford (Deaf Smith County) 59 MPH; 1 east Bushland (Potter County) 64 MPH; 5 miles west of Timbercreek Canyon (Randall County) 58 MPH; 4 miles west northwest of Amarillo (Potter County) 58 MPH; 7 miles north of Bootleg (Deaf Smith County) 60 MPH; and 4 miles west of Amarillo (Potter County) 61 MPH.

Between the evening hours of February 24 and the afternoon hours of February 25th, widespread snowfall totals of 5 to 13 inches with a maximum of 19 inches of snow were reported across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle. This snowfall crippled the Panhandles in ways not seen since the 1957 and 1934 blizzards. In Amarillo (Potter and Randall County), this blizzard was the third largest snowfall event on record, the second largest snowfall for a calendar day on record, the largest snowfall for a single day on record, and the 17 inch snow depth from 6 AM CST Tuesday, February 26th set the highest all-time snow depth at Amarillo on record. | |The 6 PM CST upper air analysis on February 24th reviled a closed mid-level low pressure system diving south-southeastward from the Four Corners Region. This positioning put the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle under the front right quadrant of a 90 mph to 120 mph upper level jet streak, and caused a transition of a surface stationary front draped across the Southern Texas Panhandle into a cold front. The large scale forcing provided by the aforementioned factors coupled with low level moisture advection to initiate snow showers over eastern New Mexico. These snow showers quickly expanded into the northwestern Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. The surface cold front surged southward in advance of the snow showers, which ensured any precipitation reaching the ground would be in a frozen state. A few embedded lightning strikes were evident as snow showers taped into very steep mid-level temperature lapse rates and weak elevated instability while moving further into the Panhandles. Snowfall rates of 1 inch to 2 inches per hour were observed, but higher snow fall rates of 2 inches to 3 inches per hour were possible given the weakly convective nature of some of the storms. By 7 PM CST, these possible higher snowfall rates were validated when a storm chaser in Hutchinson County reported 2 inches of snow had accumulated within 45 minutes. ||By midnight of the 25th, the mid-level closed low had progressed into southeastern New Mexico. This placed the Panhandles squarely in the ���comma head��� of the system. As a result, bands of heavy snow developed from Hereford, Texas (Deaf Smith County) to Slapout, Oklahoma (Beaver County). Weak instability continued to produce isolated lightning strikes within these snow bands. Sustained surface winds across the Panhandles had built into the 30 to 40 mph range in response to the strong post-frontal surface pressure gradient and occasional 55 to 65 mph winds gusts were reported within the heavier snow bands. These blizzard conditions caused visibilities to drop as low as 50 feet, and produced multiple inches of snow over several hours. ||By 6 AM CST, the mid-level closed low was positioned near Sweetwater, Texas, and heavy bands of snow were still evident on radar along a Hereford, TX (Deaf Smith County) to Slapout, Oklahoma (Beaver County) line. Snow amount reports averaged between 4 to 10 inches along and to either side this line with the National Weather Service in Amarillo measuring eleven inches. Blizzard conditions continued throughout the morning hours, and two hurricane force wind gusts were measured at the National Weather Service Office in Amarillo and at the Pantex plant just prior to noon. The gust at the National Weather Service office in Amarillo measured 75 mph, and the gust from the Pantex plant was measured at 77 mph. ||By 12 PM CST, the mid-level closed low had progressed into north central Texas allowing a clearing line to the New Mexico/Texas state line. This further east position of the low also had a diminishing effect on the heaviest snow bands as the upper level forcing had lessen. Snowfall rates dropped to below 1 inch per hour, and the surface pressure gradient was slowly weakening to allow a slow lowering of sustained surface winds. However, near zero visibilities were still reported in locations where snow had ended due to blowing snow. The clearing line was positioned from Amarillo, Texas (Randall and Potter County) to Guymon, Oklahoma (Texas County) by 3 PM CST, and distinct snow bands were no longer evident on radar. Surface winds had also dropped below 35 mph sustained to bring an end to blizzard conditions across the Panhandles. Snow showers continued to diminish before coming to an end just before 10 PM CST. ||The following is a listing of the highest snow amounts per county: 19.0 inches in Amarillo (Potter County); 1.0 inch in Dalhart (Dallam County); 8.0 inches in Vega (Oldham County); 12.0 inches in Dumas (Moore County); 10.0 inches in Morse (Hansford County); 2.0 inches in Stratford (Sherman County); 11.3 inches in Canyon (Randall County); 11.0 inches in Hereford (Deaf Smith County); 15.0 inches Perryton (Ochiltree County); 16.0 inches in Pampa (Gray County); 17.0 inches in Sanford (Hutchinson County); 14.0 inches in Wheeler (Wheeler County); 4.0 inches in Hedley (Donley County); 4.0 inches in Samnorwood (Collingsworth County); 12.0 inches in Briscoe (Hemphill County); 14.0 inches in Panhandle (Carson County); 14.0 inches in Lipscomb (Lipscomb County); 14.0 inches in Claude (Armstrong County); 14.0 inches in Miami (Roberts County); and 4 inches in Channing (Hartley County).| |While the total economic losses due to the blizzard remains largely undocumented, the blizzard cleanup cost the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) nearly $1.6 million and cattle farmers $10.24 million in cattle losses. || The 8 to 19 inch swath of snow across the majority of the Panhandles paralyzed traffic, and caused both TXDOT and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (OKDOT) to close all roads and highways across the region. TXDOT crews began performing plowing operations during the onset of snow accumulation however; plowing operations had to be suspended due to several near misses, visibilities as low as 50 feet, and operator safety concerns. Plowing operations were not allowed to resume until the morning of the 25th as conditions improved. City Utilities and Parks Departments were re-tasked to assist road crews in plowing and TXDOT crews from as far away as El Paso and Dallas were deployed to assist.||Numerous motorists became stranded, 50 in Amarillo alone, during and after the blizzard across both the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle. The National Guard deployed 53 troops and 37 vehicles to assist local law enforcement in search and rescue operations to locate stranded motorist along Interstate 40. | |The blizzard forced businesses to shut down, caused temporary power outages, and limited the supply of goods by paralyzing delivery methods. Xcel Energy reported 4,400 customers across the Texas Panhandle lost power as a result the blizzard causing an issue at a substation on the northeast side of Amarillo (Potter County). Toot-n-Totum closed 52 of their 62 locations across the panhandles, which was the first time in 62 years of operations that so many locations were closed. The remaining 10 locations were reported to have been visited by 11,000 customers with lines of 40 to 50 people deep according to security camera estimates. All Pak-A-Sak locations in Amarillo were closed for the first time in their 35 years of operations. BNSF Railway notified customers to expect a 24 to 48 hour delay in the delivery of goods. The Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport was forced to shut down on the morning of the 25th, and was unable to reopen until the morning of the 26th. However, Untied Airlines and American Airlines did not schedule any departures until the 27th.||Economic impact of the blizzard estimated from known TXDOT costs, cattle losses, and estimated vehicle repairs and delayed services.

The Texas Forest Service reported that the Crawford Ranch 2 Wildfire began in northern Potter County about six miles southeast of Masterson Texas around 1710CST. The wildfire consumed an estimated two thousand two hundred acres and threatened oil production and high voltage power lines. There was one home that was directly threatened by the wildfire, however the home was saved. There were no reports of damages or injuries. The wildfire was contained around 2243CST.

Severe thunderstorms developed across the southern and eastern Texas Panhandle during the early morning hours which produced large hail and strong winds. There was some minor damage reported due to downed trees and power poles. No injuries were reported.

The Texas Forest Service reported that the Willow Creek South Complex began four miles north of Amarillo TX in Potter County around 1348 CST and was caused by power equipment being used. The wildfire consumed a measured twenty-four thousand three hundred and ten acres which was mapped using GPS. The wildfire destroyed twenty-nine homes, however no injuries were reported. The wildfire was contained at 1914 CST on March 1 and brought under control on March 3.

Slow-moving thunderstorms over the same area and producing very heavy rainfall resulted in flash flooding across the south central Texas Panhandle during the evening hours. Numerous vehicles were stranded in the high water, however no injuries were reported. Also, downed power lines were reported at Bell Street and McCormick Road.

Severe thunderstorms producing large hail...damaging thunderstorm winds...and several tornadoes moved across parts of the eastern two-thirds of the Texas Panhandle. The thunderstorms winds knocked down a large tree and one tornado caused damage to power poles. No injuries were reported.

A major winter storm coming east out of the southern Rockies brought mainly heavy snow along with ice and sleet to the Texas Panhandle January 28 into early January 29. There were no reports of injuries...however damage was reported from this storm. Numerous power outages were caused by downed power lines due to the ice and snow.||January 28 at 1317 CST...local law enforcement officials in Canadian Texas reported a half inch of sleet.||January 28 at 1318 CST...local law enforcement officials in Wheeler Texas reported a half inch of sleet.||January 28 at 1400 CST...local law enforcement officials in Clarendon Texas reported an inch and a quarter of ice. Three inches of snow covered the ice.||January 28 at 1430 CST...a trained spotter in Pampa Texas reported a half inch of sleet.||January 28 at 1500 CST...local law enforcement officials in Wellington Texas reported an inch of ice with numerous power outages.||January 28 at 1642 CST...a trained spotter in Canyon Texas measured eight inches of snow with ten to seventeen inch snow drifts.||January 28 at 1718 CST...an off-duty National Weather Service employee measured six inches of snow six miles southwest of Amarillo Texas with two and a half foot snow drifts.||January 28 at 1730 CST...an amateur radio operator measured eight inches of snow in Amarillo Texas with snow drifts up to thirty-six inches.||January 28 at 1738 CST...an off-duty National Weather Service employee measured ten inches of snow six miles west northwest of Amarillo Texas.||January 28 at 1753 CST...a trained spotter measured nine inches of snow four miles west southwest of Amarillo Texas on Teckla Boulevard between 45th Street and 34th Street.||January 28 at 1840 CST...local law enforcement officials reported eight and a half inches of snow in Spearman Texas.||January 28 at 1905 CST...an off-duty National Weather Service employee measured seven inches of snow five miles southwest of Amarillo Texas.||January 28 at 1906 CST...local law enforcement officials reported thirteen inches of snow in Vega Texas.||January 28 at 1908 CST...a trained spotter measured nine inches of snow in Canyon Texas with snow drifts of thirteen to nineteen inches.||January 28 at 1917 CST...an off-duty National Weather Service employee measured twelve inches of snow one mile south of Dumas Texas. Snow drifts were generally two to three feet...however peak drifts were as much as five feet.||January 28 at 2100 CST...an off-duty National Weather Service employee reported ten inches of snow six miles west of Amarillo Texas.||January 28 at 2134 CST...the Emergency Manager reported eight and a half inches of snow in Borger Texas.||January 28 at 2138 CST...a trained spotter measured eleven and a half inches of snow in Hartley Texas.||January 28 at 2142 CST...a trained spotter reported eleven inches of snow nine miles east northeast of Simms Texas.||January 29 at 0008 CST...an off-duty National Weather Service employee measured thirteen and a half inches of snow one mile south of Dumas Texas. Also...three to five foot snow drifts were reported against buildings.||January 29 at 0118 CST...local law enforcement officials reported six and a half inches of snow in Lipscomb Texas.||January 29 at 0600 CST...An off-duty National Weather Service employee measured seven and a half inches of snow four miles south southwest of Amarillo Texas.||January 29 at 0700 CST...An off-duty National Weather Service employee reported ten inches of snow seven miles southwest of Amarillo Texas.||January 29 at 0705 CST...a trained spotter measured seven and a half inches of snow four miles south southwest of Amarillo Texas.||January 29 at 0745 CST...a trained spotter reported six inches of snow in Dawn Texas.||January 29 at 0844 CST...a cooperative observer measured six inches of snow in Borger Texas.||January 29 at 0844 CST...the public reported eleven inches of snow in Sunray Texas.||January 29 at 0847 CST...an off-duty National Weather Service employee measured six inches of snow ten miles west of Amarillo Texas.||January 29 at 0857 CST...a cooperative observer measured thirteen inches of snow in Stratford Texas.||January 29 at 0900 CST...a cooperative observer measured seven inches of snow in Sanford Texas.||January 29 at 0900 CST...a city official in Sunray measured eleven inches of snow.||January 29 at 0900 CST...a cooperative observer measured fourteen inches of snow in Gruver Texas.||January 29 at 0900 CST...a trained spotter measured nine inches of snow in Texline Texas.||January 29 at 0902 CST...the Emergency Manager reported eleven inches of snow in Texhoma Texas.||January 29 at 0906 CST...the cooperative observer in Dalhart Texas measured twelve inches of snow.||January 29 at 0907 CST...the cooperative observer in Stratford Texas measured thirteen inches of snow.||January 29 at 0908 CST...local law enforcement officials in Perryton Texas reported eight inches of snow.||January 29 at 0909 CST...the cooperative observer in Follett Texas measured eight inches of snow.||January 29 at 0910 CST...the Emergency Manager in Dumas Texas reported eleven inches of snow.||January 29 at 0911 CST...a city official in Miami Texas measured eight inches of snow.||January 29 at 0912 CST...a city official in Canadian Texas reported eight inches of snow.||January 29 at 1130 CST...the Amarillo ASOS station located at Rick Husband International Airport six miles east northeast of Amarillo Texas measured seven inches of snow and sleet.

A winter storm moved across the southern Texas Panhandle during the morning which produced some freezing rain or freezing drizzle. The icy roads in the south central Texas Panhandle were the cause of a fatality during the early morning hours. The storm later caused high winds during the afternoon which caused some damage and injuries in the southwest Texas Panhandle.||At 1412 CST...the broadcast media measured a wind gust to fifty-four knots about three miles northwest of Amarillo.||At 1413 CST...the broadcast media measured a wind gust to fifty-two knots about one mile north northwest of Amarillo.||At 1415 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station measured a wind gust to fifty-three knots about two miles west northwest of Hereford.||At 1421 CST...the ASOS station located about six miles east northeast of Amarillo at the Rick Husband International Airport measured a wind gust to fifty-nine knots.||At 1426 CST...the broadcast media measured a wind gust to fifty-eight knots about one mile west of Amarillo.||At 1435 CST...the broadcast media measured a wind gust to fifty-five knots about one mile east of Bushland.||At 1440 CST...the broadcast media measured a wind gust to sixty knots about one mile north northwest of Hereford.||At 1441 CST...the broadcast media measured a wind gust to sixty-one knots about one mile east southeast of Amarillo.||At 1445 CST...the AWOS station located five miles east northeast of Hereford measured a wind gust to fifty-eight knots.||At 1454 CST...the broadcast media measured a wind gust to fifty-two knots about eight miles south southeast of Amarillo.||At 1504 CST...the broadcast media measured a wind gust to fifty-two knots in Panhandle.||At 1513 CST...the broadcast media measured a wind gust to fifty-three knots about three miles north northeast of Wayside.||At 1514 CST...the broadcast media measured a wind gust to fifty-six knots about three miles south southeast of Amarillo.||At 1516 CST...the broadcast media measured a wind gust to fifty-one knots about four miles west northwest of Amarillo.||At 1537 CST...the broadcast media measured a wind gust to fifty-two knots about five miles west southwest of Amarillo.||At 1554 CST...the broadcast media measured a wind gust to fifty-one knots about five miles west of Timbercreek Canyon.||At 1600 CST...the Deaf Smith County Emergency Manager estimated a wind gust to fifty-two knots near Hereford. The gradient winds caused a tree to be blown over which took out some power lines on Avenue B in Hereford. Also...a large window glass had been blown out by the strong winds in downtown Hereford.||At 1600 CST...the Deaf Smith County Emergency Manager estimated a wind gust to fifty-two knots about five miles south southeast of Hereford. These gradient winds caused a cattle truck to be blown over on Farm to Market Road 2943 near the Castro County line which caused minor injuries to two people.

Severe thunderstorms with strong winds caused a few power outages as they moved across the south central Texas Panhandle during the evening hours. No injuries were reported.

A tight pressure gradient resulted in strong winds across the Texas Panhandle during the afternoon. Damage was reported to roofs and fences...however no injuries were reported.||A fifty-one knot wind gust was recorded by AWOS located five miles east northeast of Hereford at 1140 CST.||A fifty-one knot wind gust was recorded by ASOS located six miles east northeast of Amarillo at 1141 CST.||A fifty-four knot wind gust was recorded by ASOS located two miles north of Borger at 1142 CST.||A fifty-two knot wind gust was recoded by the West Texas Mesonet site located two miles east of Pampa at 1150 CST.||A fifty-five knot wind gust was recorded by ASOS located six miles east northeast of Amarillo at 1203 CST. A twenty-five square foot section of the roof was blown off the nearby FAA building.||A fifty-four knot wind gust was recorded by AWOS located twenty-six miles northwest of Miami at 1209 CST.||A fifty-two knot wind gust was reported by the public in Potter County at 1214 CST. Power was reported out and fences were blown down.||A fifty-six knot wind gust was reported by a trained storm spotter at a rest stop on Interstate 40 at Alanreed at 1216 CST along with one quarter mile visibility in blowing dust and small trees bending completely over.||A fifty-eight knot wind gust was reported by the West Texas Mesonet station located one mile east of McLean at 1220 CST.||A fifty-four knot wind gust was reported by AWOS located two miles southwest of Canadian at 1305 CST.||A fifty-two knot wind gust was reported by the West Texas Mesonet site located two miles west southwest of Clarendon at 1350 CST.

A surface low pressure over the Texas Panhandle produced a tight pressure gradient during the day which resulted in strong winds across much of the Texas Panhandle. No injuries were reported...however several fences...a power pole...and a roof were damaged.||At approximately 0930 CST...the ASOS station located at Dalhart reported a sustained wind of thirty-eight knots.||At approximately 1030 CST...a sustained wind speed was estimated to be thirty-eight knots at Stratford.||At 1101 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to fifty knots in Spearman.||At approximately 1500 CST...the AWOS station in Dumas reported a sustained wind of thirty-eight knots.||At approximately 1500 CST...the ASOS station in Borger reported a thirty-six knot sustained wind.||At approximately 1500 CST...the ASOS station in Amarillo reported a sustained wind of forty knots.||At approximately 1400 CST...a sustained wind speed was estimated to be forty knots in Vega.||At 1117 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust of fifty-four knots in Panhandle.||At approximately 1500 CST...the sustained wind in Hereford was reported to be forty-one knots.||At 1158 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust of fifty knots seventeen miles south southeast of Claude.||At approximately 1500 CST...the sustained wind in Perryton was estimated to be thirty-nine knots.||At approximately 1500 CST...the sustained wind was estimated to be thirty-nine knots in Lipscomb.||At approximately 1400 CST...the sustained wind in Miami was estimated to be thirty-five knots.||At approximately 1130 CST...the sustained wind at the Canadian AWOS station was reported to be forty-two knots.||At approximately 1040 CST...the sustained wind at the Pampa AWOS station was reported to be forty-two knots.||At approximately 1140 CST...the sustained wind in Shamrock was estimated to be forty knots.||At approximately 1140 CST...the sustained wind at the Clarendon West Texas Mesonet station was reported to be thirty-nine knots.||At approximately 1240 CST...the sustained wind in Wellington was estimated to be thirty-seven knots.||At 0930 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located two miles northwest of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty-one knots.||At 0932 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to fifty-five knots in Amarillo.||At 0933 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to fifty-one knots in Hereford.||At 0934 CST...the Dalhart ASOS station located three miles southwest of Dalhart reported a wind gust to fifty-one knots.||At 0935 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to fifty knots at Texline.||At 0941 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to fifty knots eight miles northwest of Miami.||At 0946 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to fifty knots in Amarillo.||At 0948 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to fifty-six knots three miles east of Bushland.||At 0946 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to fifty-one knots in Bushland.||At 1012 CST...the ASOS station located two miles north of Borger reported a wind gust to fifty-three knots.||At 1020 CST...the AWOS station located five miles east northeast of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty knots.||At 1035 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to sixty knots three miles east of Bushland.||At 1040 CST...the AWOS station located five miles east northeast of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty-one knots.||At 1040 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located two miles northwest of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty-three knots.||At 1044 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to sixty-four knots three miles east of Bushland.||At 1045 CST...the ASOS station located six miles east northeast of Amarillo reported a wind gust to fifty-five knots.||At 1054 CST...the ASOS station located two miles north of Borger reported a wind gust to fifty-one knots.||At 1100 CST...a trained spotter estimated a wind gust to sixty-one knots along with zero mile visibility in blowing dust on Interstate 40 and Hope Road which is five miles west of Amarillo.||At 1100 CST...the AWOS station located five miles east northeast of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty-one knots.||At 1100 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located two miles east of Pampa reported a wind gust to fifty knots.||At 1105 CST...the AWOS station located two miles southwest of Canadian reported a wind gust to fifty knots.||At 1106 CST...the ASOS station located six miles east northeast of Amarillo reported a wind gust to fifty-three knots.||At 1107 CST...the AWOS station located five miles north northwest of Pampa reported a wind gust to sixty knots.||At 1114 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to fifty-six knots eight miles east of Amarillo.||At 1115 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to fifty-four knots in Amarillo.||At 1115 CST...the ASOS station located six miles east northeast of Amarillo reported a wind gust to fifty-four knots.||At 1115 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located two miles northwest of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty-four knots.||At 1115 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located two miles east of Pampa reported a wind gust to fifty-one knots.||At 1120 CST...the AWOS station located five miles east northeast of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty-two knots.||At 1125 CST...the AWOS station located two miles southwest of Canadian reported a wind gust to fifty-two knots.||At 1127 CST...the AWOS station located five miles north northwest of Pampa reported a wind gust to fifty-two knots.||At 1128 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to fifty-two knots in Amarillo.||At 1129 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to fifty-three knots in Amarillo.||At 1129 CST...the ASOS station located six miles east northeast of Amarillo reported a wind gust to fifty-three knots.||At 1130 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to fifty-eight knots in Hereford.||At 1140 CST...the AWOS station located five miles east northeast of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty-four knots.||At 1142 CST...a trained spotter reported that a light standard and chain link fence was blown down near the Interstate 40 and Coulter Street interchange.||At 1145 CST...the AWOS station located two miles southwest of Canadian reported a wind gust to fifty-two knots.||At 1147 CST...the AWOS station located five miles north northwest of Pampa reported a wind gust to fifty-two knots.||At 1152 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to fifty-one knots in Groom.||At 1155 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located one mile east of McLean reported a wind gust to fifty knots.||At 1200 CST...an off-duty National Weather Service employee reported a wind gust to fifty-six knots two miles northwest of Canyon.||At 1200 CST...a trained spotter in Pampa reported four sections of a fence was destroyed and there was also damage to signs in town.||At 1201 CST...the broadcast media reported a wind gust to fifty-three knots in Lefors.||At 1204 CST...an off-duty National Weather Service employee five miles east of Amarillo reported that the roof has been blown off of an abandoned gas station at the intersection of Interstate 40 and Lakeside Drive.||At 1205 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located two miles northwest of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty-three knots.||At 1205 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located one mile east of McLean reported a wind gust to fifty-four knots.||At 1207 CST...the ASOS station located two miles north of Borger reported a wind gust to fifty-two knots.||At 1220 CST...the AWOS station located five miles east northeast of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty-four knots.||At 1220 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located two miles northwest of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty-four knots.||At 1224 CST...an off-duty National Weather Service employee reported that a power pole near Interstate 40 and Georgia Street interchange in Amarillo was bent by the strong winds.||At 1230 CST...an off-duty National Weather Service employee reported that several picket fences were blown down along Tascosa Road three miles northwest of Amarillo.||At 1235 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located one mile east of McLean reported a wind gust to fifty-one knots.||At 1247 CST...the ASOS station located six miles east northeast of Amarillo reported a wind gust to fifty-one knots.||At 1250 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located one mile east of McLean reported a wind gust to fifty-four knots.||At 1255 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located two miles northwest of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty-four knots.||At 1255 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located one mile east of McLean reported a wind gust to fifty-six knots.||At 1300 CST...the ASOS station located six miles east northeast of Amarillo reported a wind gust to fifty knots.||At 1300 CST...the AWOS station located five miles east northeast of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty-one knots.||At 1310 CST...the ASOS station located six miles east northeast of Amarillo reported a wind gust to fifty-six knots.||At 1310 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located one mile east of McLean reported a wind gust to fifty-eight knots.||At 1315 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located one mile east of McLean reported a wind gust to fifty-four knots.||At 1325 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located two miles northwest of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty-seven knots.||At 1340 CST...the AWOS station located five miles east northeast of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty knots.||At 1340 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located one mile east of McLean reported a wind gust to fifty-one knots.||At 1355 CST...the West Texas Mesonet station located two miles northwest of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty knots.||At 1400 CST...the AWOS station located five miles east northeast of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty-one knots.||At 1401 CST...the ASOS station located six miles east northeast of Amarillo reported a wind gust to fifty-five knots.||At 1410 CST...the AWOS station located five miles east northeast of Hereford reported a wind gust to fifty knots.||At 1436 CST...the ASOS station located six miles east northeast of Amarillo reported a wind gust to fifty-three knots.||At 1500 CST...an off-duty National Weather Service employee reported shingle damage on homes about five miles south southwest of Amarillo.||At 1520 CST...an off-duty National Weather Service employee reported fences blown over along with a tree which was split in half and laying on the roof of a home.

A vigorous low pressure system in the upper atmosphere moved just south of the Texas Panhandle and produced blizzard conditions across all but the extreme southeast Texas Panhandle. As much as two feet of snow fell across the northeast Texas Panhandle with generally four to twelve inches of snow elsewhere. Approximately thirteen hundred residents in southeast Amarillo lost power along with twelve hundred residents in the Darrouzett...Follett...and Higgins areas...and six hundred residents in the Pringle area north of Stinnett. There were one hundred and thirty-six stranded motorists rescued in the Dalhart area and Amarillo police officers worked sixty-seven vehicular accidents due to the blizzard. Preliminary estimates are that about thirty-four hundred cattle were killed in the blizzard. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

A surface trough of low pressure along the lee of the Rockies deepened and resulted in strong west and southwest winds across much of the Texas Panhandle. The strong winds caused damage in Booker...in the extreme northeast Texas Panhandle. The roof was blown off of a grocery store...which knocked down power lines and caused damage to cars in the nearby parking lot.

A vigorous upper low moving across the Southern Plains States allowed a surface low pressure system north of the Texas panhandle to deepen. This resulted in tightening of the pressure gradient which caused very strong west to northwesterly downsloping winds. Damage to power poles and light structural damage occurred across the Texas Panhandle.

A strong upper low moved from southern California into eastern New Mexico and southeastern Colorado. This system produced snow...sleet and freezing rain across the Texas panhandle. Interstate 40 was closed west of Amarillo from Soncy Road to the New Mexico state line from 7 PM CST on December 19 until 8 AM CST December 20 due to the potentially icy conditions. Interstate 27 between Amarillo and Canyon had dry stretches and icy patches which created havoc for drivers. A Xcel Energy spokesman reported that fifteen hundred residents were without power and downed tree limbs were to blame in Amarillo. Also...one thousand five hundred and seventy-five residents in Borger were without power and five hundred and sixty-five customers were without power in Miami. There were no reports of fatalities which were attributed to the icy weather...however there were a few injuries reported due to the icy weather.

Severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds moved across the southern and central Texas panhandle during the early evening hours. Power poles were reported to be bent with power lines on top of a tractor trailer at the intersection of the Claude Highway and Washington Street. In addition...the Randall County Sheriff's Office reported structural damage to homes along with power lines down on Wheatstraw Road...which is a side street off of Washington Street. Also...the general public about one quarter of a mile northwest of the Claude Highway and Washington Street...reported that a large packing crate...roughly three to four thousand pounds...was pushed north about thirty feet and that scrap metal along with two by fours were scattered all over the ground. A six inch diameter tree limb was blown down at the corner of 16th Avenue and Georgia Street in Amarillo. There were no injuries reported.

Severe thunderstorms moved from the central Texas panhandle to the eastern Texas panhandle during the evening hours producing large and damaging hail...damaging winds...and a few weak tornadoes. Hail damage occurred in the Borger area where roof damage and broken windows were reported. Wind damage occurred in and around Pampa and Skellytown where power lines and large trees were blown down or broken. Isolated tornadoes occurred over open country in the central and southeast Texas panhandle. No injuries were reported.

Severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours produced damaging winds and damaging large hail as they moved south across the southern Texas panhandle. The damaging winds blew down power lines just north of the city of Canyon. Damaging large hail caused major roof damage to homes from the western sections of Amarillo south to just north and into the northwest and northern sections of Canyon. Home windows and car windshields were also broken from the large hail. No injuries were reported.

Severe thunderstorms producing numerous tornadoes along with large hail and damaging winds moved northeast across the northwestern...central and eastern Texas panhandle during the late afternoon and evening hours. Although no injuries were reported as a result of the tornadoes...there was considerable damage to homes and businesses as well as to powerlines and trees.