Power Outage in Big Spring, TX

Public report of snapped power poles along FM 846 east of Vealmoor. Location and time are estimated by radar. Wind speeds are estimated to be approximately 100 mph. Property damage is approximate.

A thunderstorm produced wind damage near Knott. There were power poles broken and three inch tree limbs were broken. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Howard County and produced wind damage in Big Spring. Trees and power lines were blown down. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Howard County and produced a tornado near Big Spring. Eyewitness reports from storm chasers and spotters in the area indicate that the tornado began at 6:13 pm CDT just south of Texas State Highway 176, approximately 10 miles west of Big Spring. The tornado then moved southeastward over open fields, bounded by Natural Dam Lake to its west and Wilkinson Road just to its east. The tornado continued on this southeast track along Salt Lake, eventually crossing Interstate 20 at approximately 6:32 pm CDT. ||South of Interstate 20, the tornado exhibited erratic movement, being described by chasers and spotters as being nearly stationary in a field. Examination of radar imagery showed the primary storm circulation moved slowly southeastward to approximately half a mile northwest of the intersection of Lintner Road and Rockhouse Road by 6:37 pm CDT, before turning eastward. The tornado continued to move east, with the southern periphery of the tornado affecting Home #1. The tornado then began to move northeastward, crossing nearly directly over Home #2 around 6:40 pm CDT. A slight east northeast turn allowed for only the tornado's northern periphery to affect Home #3 along Cauble Road around 6:42 pm CDT.||The tornado moved southward along or near Cauble Road. The tornado continued its erratic behavior, moving southwestward and re-entering the same field as previous around 6:48 pm CDT. The tornado then turned west-northwestward, eventually becoming quasi-stationary just east of the Home #1 between 6:52 pm and 6:54 pm CDT, before moving westward, just north of Home #1. Residents at home #1 described how long the tornado lasted and felt the tornado had impacted them twice. The tornado dissipated approximately 1.5 miles west of Home #1 around 7 pm CDT.||The damage assessment team looked at several different indicators to determine tornado intensity. At Home #2, which likely was the closest and strongest structure to the tornado during the most intense portion of the tornado's life cycle, the entire roof was destroyed and exterior walls on this well-constructed residence were partially collapsed. This damage indicator suggests an EF-3 intensity with wind speeds estimated at 140-160 mph. In the adjacent field east of Home #2, a 640 type pump jack was blown over. The assessment team also looked at tree damage at Home #2. Both softwood and hardwood trees were viewed on the property. Damage to these large trees was indicative of high end EF-2 to low end EF-3 damage.||Home #1 and Home #3 experienced tornado damage indicative of EF-2 damage. In the examples shown, large sections of the roof were removed, but with the walls still standing. At Home #3, there were power poles that were snapped approximately five feet off the ground. Wind speeds at this residence are estimated at 115 to 125 mph. At Home #1, trees were uprooted. Wind speeds are estimated at this location of 105 to 115 mph. The cost of damage from this tornado is a very rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Howard County and produced a tornado near Big Spring. Eyewitness reports from storm chasers and spotters in the area indicate that the tornado began at 6:13 pm CDT just south of Texas State Highway 176, approximately 10 miles west of Big Spring. The tornado then moved southeastward over open fields, bounded by Natural Dam Lake to its west and Wilkinson Road just to its east. The tornado continued on this southeast track along Salt Lake, eventually crossing Interstate 20 at approximately 6:32 pm CDT. ||South of Interstate 20, the tornado exhibited erratic movement, being described by chasers and spotters as being nearly stationary in a field. Examination of radar imagery showed the primary storm circulation moved slowly southeastward to approximately half a mile northwest of the intersection of Lintner Road and Rockhouse Road by 6:37 pm CDT, before turning eastward. The tornado continued to move east, with the southern periphery of the tornado affecting Home #1. The tornado then began to move northeastward, crossing nearly directly over Home #2 around 6:40 pm CDT. A slight east northeast turn allowed for only the tornado's northern periphery to affect Home #3 along Cauble Road around 6:42 pm CDT.||The tornado moved southward along or near Cauble Road. The tornado continued its erratic behavior, moving southwestward and re-entering the same field as previous around 6:48 pm CDT. The tornado then turned west-northwestward, eventually becoming quasi-stationary just east of the Home #1 between 6:52 pm and 6:54 pm CDT, before moving westward, just north of Home #1. Residents at home #1 described how long the tornado lasted and felt the tornado had impacted them twice. The tornado dissipated approximately 1.5 miles west of Home #1 around 7 pm CDT.||The damage assessment team looked at several different indicators to determine tornado intensity. At Home #2, which likely was the closest and strongest structure to the tornado during the most intense portion of the tornado's life cycle, the entire roof was destroyed and exterior walls on this well-constructed residence were partially collapsed. This damage indicator suggests an EF-3 intensity with wind speeds estimated at 140-160 mph. In the adjacent field east of Home #2, a 640 type pump jack was blown over. The assessment team also looked at tree damage at Home #2. Both softwood and hardwood trees were viewed on the property. Damage to these large trees was indicative of high end EF-2 to low end EF-3 damage.||Home #1 and Home #3 experienced tornado damage indicative of EF-2 damage. In the examples shown, large sections of the roof were removed, but with the walls still standing. At Home #3, there were power poles that were snapped approximately five feet off the ground. Wind speeds at this residence are estimated at 115 to 125 mph. At Home #1, trees were uprooted. Wind speeds are estimated at this location of 105 to 115 mph. The cost of damage from this tornado is a very rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Howard County and produced wind damage near Big Spring. Power lines were reported down on Oasis Road. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

Thunderstorm wind gust of 55 mph was measured by the Big Spring AWOS. Reports nearby had a couple of power poles snapped and some roof damage to a couple homes. Damage costs are a rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Howard County and produced wind damage near and in the City of Big Spring. There were 10,000 people without power across Howard County. There were reports of roofs blown off of houses, power lines down, and trampolines blown away. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Howard County and produced a tornado near Luther. The tornado touched down in a rural area north of Big Spring, Texas at 3:23 pm CDT and continued generally east for a distance of 8.12 miles before lifting at approximately 3:50 pm CDT. A couple members of the Howard County Volunteer Fire Department witnessed the tornado. The only damage seen was to a couple of power poles which were snapped near the base. Based on the damage seen by the survey team, the tornado is being rated as an EF-1 with an estimated wind speed of 100 mph. The cost of damage is a rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Howard County and produced wind damage near Big Spring. There was a three mile long stretch of Centerpoint Road between Big Spring and Coahoma where there were 31 power poles snapped. The cost of damage is a rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved over Howard County and produced a 70 mph wind gust five miles northeast of Big Spring. Large power poles were snapped as a result of this wind. The cost of damage is a rough estimate.

Although winds at Big Spring Airport were not overly strong, power lines were blown down 13 miles east-southeast of Big Spring.

At 1953 CST, a trained weather spotter reported a tornado about 5 miles northwest of Big Spring. The NWS Storm Survey confirmed two snapped power poles, minor tree damage and an empty oil pump storage tank knocked over near this location. The tornado then tracked north northeastward and bent an 80 foot aluminum radio tower in half towards the east and snapped two additional power poles due to damaging northerly winds on its northwest flank; this occurred sometime around 2000 CST. At 2005 CST, another trained spotter reported a tornado near the town of Fairview, TX. The damage survey concluded this was a valid report, as the tornado began to turn right snapping multiple power poles and damaging a 12���X10��� storage shed anchored 2-3 feet in the ground along the way. The storage shed was tossed east northeast approximately 30 yards, indicating the tornado passed north of the residence. As the tornado continued eastward just north of Farm to Market Road 2230 east of Fairview, a significant line of power pole damage (2 miles) was observed. There were a total of 28 poles snapped towards the south around 2015 CST. Twenty of these were distribution poles and 8 of these were larger transmission poles. The tornado then possibly weakened and turned left to the northeast. On its way, it damaged another storage shed and a home's north side windows approximately 4 miles northeast of Fairview. The last approximated time for tornadic wind damage was around 2030 CST. The path recorded for this event is not the exact path the tornado actually took. Please see attached image.

At 1953 CST, a trained weather spotter reported a tornado about 5 miles northwest of Big Spring. The NWS Storm Survey confirmed two snapped power poles, minor tree damage and an empty oil pump storage tank knocked over near this location. The tornado then tracked north northeastward and bent an 80 foot aluminum radio tower in half towards the east and snapped two additional power poles due to damaging northerly winds on its northwest flank; this occurred sometime around 2000 CST. At 2005 CST, another trained spotter reported a tornado near the town of Fairview, TX. The damage survey concluded this was a valid report, as the tornado began to turn right snapping multiple power poles and damaging a 12���X10��� storage shed anchored 2-3 feet in the ground along the way. The storage shed was tossed east northeast approximately 30 yards, indicating the tornado passed north of the residence. As the tornado continued eastward just north of Farm to Market Road 2230 east of Fairview, a significant line of power pole damage (2 miles) was observed. There were a total of 28 poles snapped towards the south around 2015 CST. Twenty of these were distribution poles and 8 of these were larger transmission poles. The tornado then possibly weakened and turned left to the northeast. On its way, it damaged another storage shed and a home's north side windows approximately 4 miles northeast of Fairview. The last approximated time for tornadic wind damage was around 2030 CST. The path recorded for this event is not the exact path the tornado actually took. Please see attached image.

Storm spotters reported that thunderstorm wind gusts blew down power poles along U.S. Highway 87 near the intersection of County Road 4500 north of Big Spring.

Ham radio spotters reported that severe thunderstorm winds blew down power lines and blew the roof off of a metal storage building on the northeast side of Big Spring.

A potent upper level storm system which passed over the Southern Plains on the 15th resulted in an intense high wind and dust storm across West Texas. Blinding dust resulted in several traffic accidents on area roadways. The winds also downed power poles. A few Texas Mesonet sites recorded severe wind gusts. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 40 MPH with gusts over 50 MPH were common across the Trans Pecos region and the Permian Basin. Measured severe winds and damage reports are referenced above.

Thunderstorms producing damaging winds affected parts of the Permian Basin and the Trans Pecos region. The most significant damage was in Midland County. Elsewhere, the damage was restricted to mainly power lines and poles.