Power Outage in Falfurrias, TX

The King Fire burned thousands of acres across Brooks County near Encino. A power line was found to the cause of the fire, which ignited during the mid afternoon of March 17th and exploded to more than 10,000 acres in just a few hours (late afternoon), then continued until March 20th, when it was 100% contained. The fire consumed 11,728 acres and 1 residential building. Several other buildings were affected, but were not damaged. Damage value listed is an estimate.

Falfurrias Police Department reported downed power lines in Falfurrias. Nearby observations from Hebbronville and Alice showed gusts with the storms to be near 30 mph, but it was likely that stronger gusts caused the damage in this case.

An wildfire, sparked by a downed power line possibly due to 50 mph wind gusts, grew explosively to 8,000 acres in just a few hours - driven by continued 40 to 45 mph wind gusts, relative humidity crashing below 10 percent, warm temperatures into the 80s, and recently cured fine and moderate fuels (grass and brush). Multiple fire fighting units from the Rio Grande Valley to the South Texas Brush Country and Coastal Bend fought the fire, which was controlled and contained during the 24 hours that followed as lighter winds and higher humidity arrived. There were no reports of structure damage and other damage estimates were unknown as of late March.

Brooks County Sheriffs Office reported power poles bent over along County Road 229 and Highway 285.

Local law enforcement reported several power lines downed in the county on Highway 219 and 223.

Local law enforcement reported several power lines downed in Falfurrias and in the county on Highway 206.

Power lines were knocked down by estimated winds near 60 mph from a severe thunderstorm in southwest Brooks County, along Farm to Market 755.

One quarter inch diameter glazing was reported on exposed surfaces (tree limbs, power lines, etc). early on February 4th. Ice accretion was estimated to begin between noon and 3 PM in the county, with accretions estimated to reach 1/8 inch, the local criteria for such an unusual event, between 5 an 7 PM CST. Significant damage was not reported as the precipitation fell as a mist for nearly the entire event. ||The glaze ice, combined with the long duration freeze, fully cured all ranchland (grasses, scrub brush, mesquite) turning all plantlife brown and barren.

A squall line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved through northern and central Brooks County during the late evening of June 2nd, producing gusty winds which knocked down some power lines in Falfurrias. Law enforcement measured a gust of 54 mph at 922 PM CST as the line plowed through.

Impacts from Dolly in Brooks County were relatively minor, as was common for locations that were initially in the northern and eastern eyewall, which was significantly lower in intensity than the southern and western eyewall from which most of the damaging winds and flooding rains were produced. However, a period of sustained tropical storm force winds likely affected a good portion of the county as the collapsing center moved into extreme northern Hidalgo County, eventually straddling the Brooks/Hidalgo County line before moving through Jim Hogg County during the early morning hours of July 24th.||Winds likely increased to 35 to 45 mph sustained, with gusts likely between 50 and 60 mph, across the southern half of the county beginning around 1045 PM CDT and continuing through the pre dawn hours of the 24th, before conditions began quieting down from southeast to northwest. A peak wind gust of 45 knots, or 51 mph, was recorded at 1:45 AM on the 24th at the Brooks County Airport just south of Falfurrias. There were an unknown number of power outages across the county, as well as some minor damage, most likely to tree limbs, power lines, and poorly built structures.

Strong thunderstorm wind gusts uprooted trees and knocked down power lines near Falfurrias.

Thunderstorm winds knocked down power lines.

A perfect storm of atmospheric and surface conditions led to the development of very dangerous fire weather conditions on January 22nd. First, two nights of subfreezing temperatures combined with very dry air on January 7th and 8th cured fine fuels (mainly grasses and brush) across the South Texas Brush Country. Second, a heat spike on January 21st brought mid to upper 90s temperatures and afternoon humidity below 10 percent in some areas. Finally, a front surged across Deep South Texas early on the 22nd, followed by wind gusts up to 50 mph, humidity crashing below 10 percent, and temperatures still warming into the 80s. A downed power line sparked a fire near the Hopper Ranch in western Brooks County, which soon grew to 8,000 acres.

A powerful and nearly-stationary supercell thunderstorm pounded the Falfurrias area with large hail, gusty winds and heavy rain for a period of approximately three hours. The hail damaged homes, businesses, and automobiles. A damage survey estimated that approximately 980 homes and businesses suffered damage as a result of the hail, wind and rain. Also, the Texas Department of Public Safety reported numerous vehicles damaged by the hail. The supercell thunderstorm was finally forced east of the area as a eastward-moving area of thunderstorms approached the area from the west.