Power Outage in Midland, TX

A thunderstorm moved across Midland County and produced wind damage on the west side of the City of Midland. Multiple power lines were snapped in half and brick fence posts were blown down near the intersection of State Highway 158 and State Highway 191. Six powerline poles were snapped near the base and toppled over causing most of the neighborhood to lose power. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Midland County and produced a tornado 21 miles southeast of the City of Midland. This tornado was first viewed from near the intersection of Farm to Market Road 1787 and State Highway 349, looking southeastward. Primary indications are that the tornado developed 21 miles southeast of the City of Midland, in open fields south of County Road 300 and east of State Highway 349. The tornado moved northeastward, snapping power poles along County Road 300, and produced significant damage along County Road 1160 and Farm to Market Road 1379. The snapped power poles, the damage to two RVs along County Road 1160, and the damage to manufactured trailers along FM 1379 are all indicative of EF-2 tornado damage. The tornado lifespan was 10 minutes long with an estimated peak wind of 125 mph. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Ector County and produced a tornado southeast of Odessa. The tornado developed in Ector County approximately nine miles southeast of Odessa, northeast of the Pleasant Farms community, and moved northeastward into southwest portions of Midland County. The aerial survey of this tornado revealed a clearly defined path. Numerous power poles were broken. The survey also showed pump jacks and other oil field equipment that were toppled by the tornado. The tornado had a lifespan of 15 minutes. Based on research that occurred in association with the May 14, 2010 Notrees tornado, a tornado that also knocked down oil field pump jacks, this tornado was rated as an EF-3 tornado. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

Lightning struck a tank battery which caused it to explode on FM 1379 just north of County Road 230. When the tank exploded a chunk flew off and knocked down some power lines. FM 1379 was closed briefly between CR 200 and CR 230 to put out the fire. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Midland County and produced wind damage in the City of Midland. A power pole snapped at East Front Street and Terrell Street in Midland. The cost of damage is a rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Midland County and produced wind damage in the City of Midland. The thunderstorm winds damaged the roof of a dorm at Midland College, and there was roof damage at a restaurant near TX-158 and W. Louisiana Avenue in Midland. The thunderstorm winds also snapped a power pole and uprooted trees. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Midland County and produced wind damage in the City of Midland. The damage includes a tree that fell on top of some vehicles at an apartment complex, a tree fell on top of some power lines, a trampoline was blown into some powerlines, the foul pole at the local baseball stadium was damaged, and a power pole was blown down on top of a house. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Midland County and produced wind damage in the City of Midland. There were power lines and poles down on Wall Street in Midland. The wind speed is an estimate and the cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

During the evening of April 10, 2016 high winds from a shower affected Greenwood, Texas. A storm survey was conducted the next day on April 11, 2016. The shower was mainly virga (evaporated rain) that resulted in a microburst. A 285 foot tall radio tower used by the City/County of Midland was blown down and a metal power pole was bent near the base. It appeared that the strong winds were still elevated when it affected the radio tower then reached the surface at the location of the power pole. Based on radar imagery and damage, it is estimated that the winds reached between 80 and 100 mph during the event. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

Oncor Utilities reported 3,100 customers without power, and Sharyland reported 800 customers without power from down power lines due to icing.

A thunderstorm moved across Midland County and produced wind damage in Midland. Seven to eight power poles were blown down in northeast Midland. The cost of damage is a rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved over Cotton Flat in Midland County and produced wind damage from a downburst. Four inch diameter tree limbs were snapped. A power pole was blown down on Highway 349, and there was damage to houses along west county road 130. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

Light freezing rain and sleet fell from the morning of 11/22 until the afternoon of 11/23. However, heavier freezing rain fell the evening of 11/23 with a 1/4 inch of ice accumulation by 953 pm CST. Over 60 car wrecks were reported in Midland from the morning of 11/22 to the morning of 11/24. Numerous roads closed, particularly Loop 250 in Midland. There were no fatalities, and several injuries, none serious. Power lines down due to icing with 3,167 meters still out as of 6 pm CST 11/24. Each meter represents a residence or business.

A power line pole snapped near Interstate 20 and Rankin Highway, or 4 miles south of Midland at 202 PM Local Standard Time.

A power outage was reported at the Greenwood School due to strong winds, 11 miles east of Midland.

The damaging winds knocked over several power lines and a few transformers within the Midland, TX city limits. The exact number of power lines damaged was not available and therfore the monetary damage was estimated based on the cost of power pole/transformer replacement.

On Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service in Midland conducted a damage survey of areas within the city of Midland affected by a heat burst. The damage survey focused on locations at and around the intersection of Loop 250 and Midland Drive, in northwest portions of the city of Midland. Between Briarwood and Navarro Avenues along Midland Drive, 13 power poles were damaged to varying degees. A 62 mph wind was reported at Midland Airpark on the 11:25 pm CDT observation. However, damage to wooden poles along Midland Drive was indicative of winds in the 80 to 100 mph range.

Eighteen inches of water accumulated in the underpass of Interstate 20 and Farm to Market Road 1788. While water normally gathers here, pumps are available to pump the water out of the pass. Because the power was knocked out by 93 mph winds, the pumps were inoperable and water remained throughout much of the following day. The underpass was closed to traffic until the water was able to be pumped out.

The Automated Surface Observing Station at Midland International Airport (KMAF) recorded several wind gusts above 70 mph over a 20 minute period, including two of 93 mph. Shortly after the third recorded gust of 93 mph the power went out to much of the area around the airport, including the ASOS. Observations were missing for the next 12 to 16 hours as power was eventually restored and the ASOS was repaired. The 93 mph wind gust is the highest wind gust recorded at Midland International Airport. ||Also, a trained spotter in Midland measured an 80 mph wind gust along with power outages on Farm to Market Road 1788 near Texas State Highway 158. ||Numerous reports of damage occured in Midland including: numerous trees downed across Midland, including one at a television station and numerous trees at two apartment complexes, north facing windows at an apartment complex in north Midland, and a roof blown off a mobile home at the intersection of West County Road 150 and Farm to Market Road 1788. Two local news stations (KMID and KWES) went off the air due to satellite dish problems. At the Commemorative Air Force headquarters, a 75-by-25 foot section of the hangar's roof was ripped open and one ticket booth was destroyed.

One power pole was downed by 70 mph winds in Midland County.

The Midland County Emergency Manager reported that the metal framing of a new building at the intersection of Summit Avenue and Baird Street had blown down. In addition a power pole was on fire on North A Street after lines sparked.|Midland International Airport personnel reported fences and parking lot arms downed by high winds.|The Automated Weather Observing System at Midland Airpark recorded sustained windspeeds as high as 46 mph with a gust to 61 mph.

Thunderstorm winds blew a tree down onto a house on West County Road 114 in Midland. Power lines also were blown down at the intersection of Bankhead Highway and Kentucky.

Thunderstorm winds blew down at least nine power poles near the intersection of Farm to Market Roads 1788 and 3503. They also blew out the windows in a house north of Greenwood.

Severe thunderstorm outflow winds from the Ector County storm affected the western portions of Midland County. A severe wind gust was measured by the Midland International Airport ASOS. It is likely winds were stronger south and west of the city where twenty six power poles were snapped in half by the thunderstorm winds along Farm to Market 1788, resulting in that highway's temporary closing.

Many reports of severe and damaging winds were received across the northwest part of Midland after a downburst was observed visually and on radar by meteorologists on duty at WFO Midland. Estimates in the city of Midland indicate 70 to 80 MPH winds. Damage reports which were received included barns destoryed and power poles blown down.

The local utility company reported power poles blown down by severe thunderstorm winds.

Damaging thunderstorm winds were reported from the city of Midland to Greenwood. A total of nineteen power poles were blown down by the winds. The hardest hit areas were near Greenwood, where a NWS damage survey indicated that several weakly constructed homes received minor roof damage, along with one business. In addition, windows were blown out of seven vehicles in a church parking lot. No injuries were reported.

A damaging microburst occured in the northern portions of the city of Midland. High winds up to 70 MPH resulted in numerous large trees being blown down...damage to fences...and business signs. The most significant damage was centered near the intersection of Loop 250 and Garfield Street... however... windows were broken by the high winds as far west as Midkiff Street. Power lines were also blown down...resulting in power outages. One power line landed on a vehicle. No injuries were reported.

A survey of the damage area southeast of Midland indicated that a microburst caused this event. Based on damage patterns, it is evident that the impact point from the microburst was west of Farm to Market Road 1213, north of County Road 150, east of County Road 1160, and south of County Road 144. The worst of the damaged appeared to be south of County Road 144 and also along County Road 150. Estimated wind speeds of 80-100 mph occurred with the microburst.Three mobile homes in the Valley View area were destroyed, while other homes sustained roof and window damage. One horse was also killed by flying debris. A center pivot irrigation system was destroyed as it was blown out of a field onto a nearby county road. A completely full oil tank battery and numerous powerlines were also blown down during the event. The 00Z Midland upper air sounding from Sunday evening also suggested the potential for microburst and thunderstorms were forecast for Midland County. Damage estimates for the entire event are estimated in the $250,000 range.