Power Outage in Dimmitt, TX

Law enforcement in Dimmitt reported a power pole blown over along Farm to Market Road 3215 on the south side of Dimmitt.

A downburst along the southeast side of Dimmitt completely destroyed a sheet metal building and knocked out power to the city for several hours. A 50-foot HAM radio tower was also toppled by these winds.

Reports on social media indicated a power pole was blown over near the intersection of Farm to Market Roads 1524 and 1055.

Storm chaser video showed several power poles being blown down by inflow winds into a tornado at the intersection of State Highway 86 and County Road 510A.

A storm chaser observed a brief tornado touchdown just south of the intersection of State Highway 86 and Farm to Market road 1524. Several power poles were downed along Farm to Market road 1524.

Several storm chasers observed a tornado that began around the intersection of Farm to Market Road 1055 and County Road 618 and moved east for approximately two miles. Video evidence indicated this tornado moved over a feed lot and then into an open field. Several power lines were downed along Farm to Market Road 1055 and County Road 510.

Touchstone Energy reported that 14 power poles were damaged on the west and northwest side of Dimmitt. The damage was likely from severe inflow winds. The time of this event was estimated from adjacent severe wind reports.

An exceptionally large and significant tornado affected areas west of Dimmitt in Castro County. Along with video provided by storm spotters, a NWS storm survey team determined this tornado began just south of Highway 86 about 4 miles southwest of Dimmitt, before quickly assuming a very large wedge formation while moving slowly northeast. This tornado then turned north and northwest, before ending around the intersection of County Roads 511 and 511A. A satellite tornado reportedly accompanied this large tornado, however multiple video sources revealed this was only a satellite funnel. The most significant damage observed by the NWS survey team was found near the intersection of Farm to Market Road 2392 and County Road 510A. Here, a metal systems building was completely destroyed with its remnants lofted several hundred feet to the northwest. Several nearby homes sustained damage up to EF-2 intensity, with some residents riding out the tornado in their shelters. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities accompanied this 1.1 mile wide tornado. Elsewhere along this large tornado's path, numerous power poles and center pivot irrigation systems were destroyed.

An exceptionally large and significant tornado affected areas west of Dimmitt in Castro County. Along with video provided by storm spotters, a NWS storm survey team determined this tornado began just south of Highway 86 about 4 miles southwest of Dimmitt, before quickly assuming a very large wedge formation while moving slowly northeast. This tornado then turned north and northwest, before ending around the intersection of County Roads 511 and 511A. A satellite tornado reportedly accompanied this large tornado, however multiple video sources revealed this was only a satellite funnel. The most significant damage observed by the NWS survey team was found near the intersection of Farm to Market Road 2392 and County Road 510A. Here, a metal systems building was completely destroyed with its remnants lofted several hundred feet to the northwest. Several nearby homes sustained damage up to EF-2 intensity, with some residents riding out the tornado in their shelters. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities accompanied this 1.1 mile wide tornado. Elsewhere along this large tornado's path, numerous power poles and center pivot irrigation systems were destroyed.

A downburst struck the Dimmitt area with winds as high as 72 mph as measured by a nearby Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet station. The Dimmitt sheriff's office reported widespread power outages, downed tree limbs and minor roof damage throughout the city.

An NWS storm survey in the community of Flagg confirmed significant downburst winds of around 90 mph from the east and northeast. These winds heavily damaged a large empty grain bin, shifted a nearby building that was bolted to concrete a few inches off its foundation, twisted pieces of metal on a grain elevator, knocked down two power poles, and caused various degrees of damage to trees.

A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet station near Dimmitt measured a wind gust to 95 mph. The mesonet station sustained significant damage during the thunderstorm. The mesonet station's radiation shields were damaged, and a pole and guy wires were pulled out of the ground. Additionally, three-quarter inch hail dents were observed on the mesonet equipment. A center pivot irrigation system was also damaged in vicinity of the mesonet station. Southwest of Dimmitt, seven power poles were downed around the intersection of FM 1055 and County Road 621. In Dimmitt, a feed lot office was heavily damaged.

Residents near the Easter community in northwestern Castro County estimated thunderstorm wind gusts up to 60 mph shortly before 20:00 CST. The winds downed utility lines, and electrical power was out to several customers for nearly three hours. By 20:05 CST, the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site near Dimmitt recorded a peak gust of 60 mph as the thunderstorms continued to move southeast.

Strong to severe westerly winds brought blowing dust and minor damage to the South Plains region of west Texas. The winds additioanally fanned raging wildfires. Winds over the South Plains region of west Texas gusted as high as 66 MPH. This downed power lines and caused light roof damage. Around 14:00 CST, severe wind gusts caused a tractor-trailer to roll over while traveling along Interstate 27 near Abernathy (Hale County). The driver walked away with no injuries. Numerous homes across the region lost shingles from roofs, particularly in Lubbock. Neither significant structural damage nor injuries were reported. A list of severe wind gusts recorded by the Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet and area observing stations follows:Abernathy (Hale County).........58 MPHAmherst (Lamb County)..........59 MPHChildress (Childress County)...58 MPHDimmitt (Castro County).........62 MPHFloydada (Floyd County).........58 MPHFriona (Parmer County)...........65 MPHGraham (Garza County)..........66 MPHHart (Castro County)...............61MPHMemphis (Hall County)...........60 MPHMuleshoe (Bailey County).......61 MPHOlton (Lamb County)..............60 MPHPaducah (Cottle County)..........58 MPHPlainview (Hale County)..........58 MPHPost (Garza County)................62 MPHTahoka (Lynn County)............58 MPHTulia (Swisher County)...........60 MPHSilverton (Briscoe County)......64 MPHWolfforth (Lubbock County)....59MPH

The Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet recorded a total of seven severe wind gusts across the South Plains region during the daytime hours on the 12th. The high westerly winds, with gusts up to 62 MPH, blew dust and smoke from ongoing wildfires over much of the region. The visibilities were dramatically reduced during much of the afternoon. Minor roof damage to several homes was reported in Lubbock, and a few power lines were additionally blown down by the winds. No injuries were reported.Friona (Parmer County)..........59 MPHTulia (Swisher County)...........60 MPHSilverton (Briscoe County)......59 MPHTahoka (Lynn County)............59 MPHLubbock (Lubbock County).....58 MPHHart (Castro County)..............62 MPHPlains (Yoakum County)........60 MPH

High wind associated with a cold front moving through the region damaged a roof in Dimmitt and blew down power lines and power poles in Plainview and Petersburg. The Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet station two miles northeast of Tulia measured a 60 mph wind gust.

Strong thunderstorm winds damaged the roof of city hall, snapped power poles, and blew down trees and power lines.

Several power poles were blown down by thunderstorm wind.

A powerful cold front pushed through West Texas during the daytime hours of the first. However, colder air and very strong winds did not arrive until late in the evening. Some winds reached high wind criteria over the extreme southwestern Texas panhandle.||Sustained high wind reports are as follows from the Texas Tech University Mesonet:||41 mph at Friona (Parmer County)...41 mph at Hart (Castro County), and 41 mph at Dimmitt (Castro County).

A powerful upper level closed low pressure system moved across West Texas on the 19th. Although most snowfall and blizzard conditions were observed well north of the Lubbock CWA, the extreme southwestern Texas panhandle received some snowfall. ||Snowfall accumulation totals: Friona (Parmer County)...1.0 inch, Dimmitt (Castro County)...1.0 inch.