Power Outage in Muleshoe, TX

A strong low-level mesocyclone accompanied by destructive rear flank downdraft (RFD) winds tracked southeastward from Muleshoe to about 12 miles southeast of Muleshoe. Although law enforcement reported a tornado, no definitive evidence of such could be determined from the NWS storm survey conducted in the following days. Combined with direct accounts from storm chasers, the storm survey determined that significant straight line winds were to blame for the majority of damage discovered generally north of Highway 84. Maximum sustained winds were estimated between 80 and 90 mph and created much damage to rural homes, a dairy business, farm equipment, and area power poles. The worst damage was dealt to the Track Dairy where several lightweight structures such as shade canopies were destroyed. At least eight head of cattle perished at this location from collapsing structures and another 30 to 40 were injured. This damage swath ended north of Sudan along Farm-to-Market 303 where a center pivot was overturned.

A strong low-level mesocyclone accompanied by destructive rear flank downdraft (RFD) winds tracked southeastward from Muleshoe to about 12 miles southeast of Muleshoe. Although law enforcement reported a tornado, no definitive evidence of such could be determined from the NWS storm survey conducted in the following days. Combined with direct accounts from storm chasers, the storm survey determined that significant straight line winds were to blame for the majority of damage discovered generally north of Highway 84. Maximum sustained winds were estimated between 80 and 90 mph and created much damage to rural homes, a dairy business, farm equipment, and area power poles. The worst damage was dealt to the Track Dairy where several lightweight structures such as shade canopies were destroyed. At least eight head of cattle perished at this location from collapsing structures and another 30 to 40 were injured. This damage swath ended north of Sudan along Farm-to-Market 303 where a center pivot was overturned.

The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site in Muleshoe sampled a 59 mph wind gust. In addition, numerous utility poles, power lines, and trees were reported downed near and south of town.

Severe thunderstorm winds resulted in considerable damage in the Muleshoe vicinity between 17:35 and 17:45 CST on the 25th. Extensive damage occurred to a pair of trailer homes just southeast of the city, when one was rolled by the winds and a second home sustained heavy roof damage. A barn was additionally reported to have been destroyed and large pieces of debris obstructed a county road just northeast of Muleshoe. East of the city, extensive damage occurred at a cattle dairy, where 1,500 stables were destroyed and at least three calves were killed. Local utility companies reported nearly 100 power poles were downed by the winds. The damaging winds were accompanied by large hail. The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet near Muleshoe recorded a peak wind gust of 59 mph at 17:45 CST, but winds associated with the damaging were likely stronger. No injuries were reported.

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 was able to 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

Strong thunderstorm wind downed several power poles.

Strong wind blew down power lines.

A complex of thunderstorms developed over the plains of eastern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle during the late afternoon and early evening hours of the 16th. This activity congealed into a complex of storms which moved southward over the northwestern South Plains during the late evening hours. Locally damaging winds downed tree limbs and power lines at Muleshoe (Bailey County) as the storms impacted that area around 20:00 CST.

A potent storm system swept over the U.S. Southern Plains on the 4th and produced damaging westerly winds that contributed to blowing dust and wildfires across west Texas. ||While the most significant public impacts occurred over the Texas Panhandle, winds sustained at speeds greater than 40 mph and gusts up to 66 mph were recorded by the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet and the KVII-TV Schoolnet over the extreme southwestern Panhandle and the northern South Plains. Local officials reported that these winds caused near-zero visibilities in blowing dust along U.S. Highway 60 in Parmer County, where a few minor vehicular collisions occurred. The structure of a business in downtown Friona (Parmer County) was partially unroofed by the winds, and a downed tree fell onto a car in Dimmitt (Castro County). No injuries were reported.||The strong winds downed a number of utility lines, which combined with abnormally warm temperatures and drought conditions resulted in at least three large wildfires. A 1,000 acre wildfire ignited just after 10:00 CST near Texas Highway 86 on the Castro and Swisher County Line. This fire destroyed a home, but no injuries were reported. A fire estimated to have consumed 400 acres began just east of Claytonville (Swisher County) and spread eastward over the Briscoe County line shortly after 12:30 CST. A third wildfire burned at least 300 acres and damaged oil field equipment in western Yoakum County, when winds downed power lines north of Denver City just after 16:00 CST. The fires resulted in no injuries on the South Plains, but wind and fire-related weather hazards combined to result in an estimated $125,000 in damages.||A list of measured severe wind gusts follows: 66 mph at Lazbuddie (Parmer County), 65 mph at Dimmitt (Castro County), 65 mph at Friona (Parmer County), 63 mph at Hart (Castro County), and 61 mph at Silverton (Briscoe County).

August 26 Severe Thunderstorm Event Summary: Scattered thunderstorms initially developed over the central South Plains region of west Texas during the afternoon hours of the 26th. These storms produced locally intense downpours and damaging thunderstorm winds as they propagated eastward over the eastern South Plains and the northern Rolling Plains. The most significant impacts were in Paducah, where destructive winds estimated to exceed 80 mph caused widespread damage to light weight structures and extended power outages.At least two isolated miniature supercell thunderstorms developed over the extreme southwestern Texas Panhandle and the northwestern South Plains during the evening hours. These storms produced large hail up to the size of quarters over parts of Bailey and Cochran Counties.