Power Outage in Hartley, TX

A power outage occurred at the Dalhart ASOS station shortly after it measured the 82 mph wind gust.

A tornado along the leading edge of a squall line was captured on video by multiple storm chasers in the area. It was weak and in open country and did not cause any reported damage including to power lines where it crossed Highway 287.

A storm chaser reported a power pole leaning at a 45 degree angle 4 miles southeast of Harley on Highway 385.

This tornado formed four miles west of Boys Ranch in Oldham county and entered Hartley county two and a half miles south southeast of Channing at 1759 CST. The tornado continued for another thirteen and a half miles before dissipating on mile south of U.S. Highway 87 or seven miles east southeast of Hartley. In Hartley county...numerous power poles...fences...and a few highway signs sustained damage. While in Oldham county...the tornado was rated as EF0 but in Hartley county it was rated as EF1. There were no fatalities and no injuries reported.

A rear flank downdraft or very strong downburst winds derailed fifteen train cars and approximately six power poles were snapped. The derailed trains cars blocked traffic on U.S. Highway 385. An official damage survey was made on this event.

The Andy Michaels Wildfire began about 1 mile north northeast of Channing Texas in Hartley County at approximately 1141CST. The wildfire consumed roughly five hundred and seventy-four acres. There were no reports of any homes or other structures threatened, damaged or lost due to the wildfire. There were also no reports of any injuries or fatalities. The cause of the wildfire was determined to be from wind turbine or downed power lines. The Hartley Fire Department was called to a wildfire on U.S. Highway 385 approximately one mile north of Channing Texas and responded with six units and twelve personnel. The Hartley FD then called for Mutual Aid from Dalhart FD, Boys Ranch FD, Channing FD, Dumas FD, two Hartley County graders, the Hartley County Sheriff���s Office and the County Judge. The wildfire was contained around 1315CST and was brought under control around 1529CST.

The Channing Wildfire began about four miles north northeast of Channing Texas in Hartley County around 1717CST. The cause of the wildfire was downed power lines and power poles. The wildfire started after twelve power poles were downed by the high winds near Farm to Market Road 722 and US Highway 385 in an open field. There was a report of two homes, five barns, windmills and an oil infrastructure threatened although no homes or other structures were reported damaged or destroyed. The wildfire consumed an estimated forty-five hundred acres. There were a total of five 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, three single engine air tankers, a heavy air tanker, lead plane and an aerial supervision platform. The wildfire was contained around 0000CST and 0100CST on March 19.

The 2357 Wildfire began about seven miles south of Hartley Texas in Hartley county around 1452CST. The wildfire started just west of Farm to Market Road 2357 and north of County Road T and consumed approximately four hundred acres. The wildfire was caused by downed power lines as it was reported that a power pool had broken and started the wildfire. The wildfire jumped the road and continued to burn. There were no homes or other structures threatened or destroyed by the wildfire and there also no reports of any injuries or fatalities. The wildfire was contained around 1900CST. There were a total of three fire departments and other fire agencies that responded to the wildfire including Hartley Fire, Dalhart Fire and Channing Fire. The Dalhart Fire Department sent two grass trucks and also one tanker and the Channing Fire Department sent one grass truck.