Power Outage in Seminole, TX

After a previous tornado had lifted, the rear-flank downdraft surged, leading to severe winds estimated between 60 and 83 mph. Damage in the area included an unanchored shed that was tipped over and leaning onto a manufactured home along County Road 337, a snapped power pole on County Road 335, and a turned-over irrigation system off County Road 331. All of the damage was oriented towards the east/northeast, indicating this damage was caused by rear-flank downdraft winds. Property damage cost is an estimation.

A thunderstorm moved across Gaines County and produced wind damage in Seminole. There were numerous reports of wind damage including downed trees, power lines, power poles, and traffic signs. There was also damage to storage buildings. The damage occurred in Seminole and areas west toward the Texas/New Mexico state line. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Gaines County and produced wind damage in and near Seminole. A storm survey was conducted of the damage and it was determined that the winds got up to 100 mph. Along with damage to trees and metal buildings, there were power poles that were blown down on US 180. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Gaines County and produced a tornado. The tornado began east southeast of Seminole at approximately 6:46 pm CST and moved northeast. It had caused power pole and irrigation equipment damage and was likely an EF-1 at 6:48 pm. At 6:50 pm, the tornado briefly reached EF-2 intensity as it caused damage to a well service rig. The last visible damage was to an area of trees just north of the intersection of Highway 180 and County Road 433 east of Seminole. A cotton field was also damaged as a result of this tornado. The path width was estimated to be 100 yards. There is not enough information to determine an approximate cost of damage.

A thunderstorm moved across Gaines County and produced wind damage east of Seminole. Two power poles were reported to be snapped at US Highway 180 and Farm to Market Road 303. The cost of damage is a rough estimate.

A thunderstorm moved across Gaines County and produced a tornado. The tornado began east southeast of Seminole at approximately 6:46 pm CST and moved northeast. It had caused power pole and irrigation equipment damage and was likely an EF-1 at 6:48 pm. At 6:50 pm, the tornado briefly reached EF-2 intensity as it caused damage to a well service rig. The last visible damage was to an area of trees just north of the intersection of Highway 180 and County Road 433 east of Seminole. A cotton field was also damaged as a result of this tornado. The path width was estimated to be 100 yards. There is not enough information to determine an approximate cost of damage.

An electric company reported 3400 customers without power from power lines down due to icing across Gaines, Dawson and Borden counties.

Strong thunderstorm winds downed powerlines along County Road 219 northwest of Seminole.

Powerlines were downed by strong thunderstorm winds on the north side of Seagraves and again south of the city along Texas State Highway 385. In addition, a storage shed was blown into a house south southwest of Seagrave.

Multiple powerline poles were downed by strong thunderstorm winds.

A damage survey was conducted by NWS personnel the morning following the winds. The results of the damage survey follow.||Winds were measured at 97.5 mph at the West Texas Mesonet site two miles north northeast of Seminole, however, there is visual indication that wind speeds in some locations around Seminole, were at times even stronger ��� estimated in the range of 100-120 mph. Communication tower damage, where a tower measuring 320 feet in height fell on a church and another tall tower was bent into the shape of a rectangle, both suggest higher wind speed estimates. Additionally, three miles east southeast of Seminole along County Road 402, at least eight wooden power poles were snapped just above the ground. This further supports the idea that winds were at times greater than 100 mph.||NWS personnel found many trees were uprooted and tree limbs down. The entire town of Seminole experienced damage, with areas just west of downtown and just east of town being hardest hit by the damaging winds.||The extent of the wind damage prompted the Gaines County EOC to request EMS/Fire assistance from Hobbs, NM. Included in the damage were two mobile homes that were rolled. One of these homes had four people inside, including one infant. All four were injured and the infant was kept for observation overnight at a Lubbock hospital. ||Backup generators at the Emergency Operations center lost power as well as commercial power to much of Seminole.

The Gaines County Sheriff's Office reported that several power poles were downed near Paynes Corner.

Law enforcement officials reported that severe thunderstorm winds downed power lines on the south side of Seminole.

Emergency management officials in Gaines County reported that several power lines and trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm winds at the intersection of County Road 210 and Farm to Market Road 3306 in northwestern Gaines County. The winds were associated with a severe left moving supercell that resulted in extensive hail and wind damage near Hobbs, New Mexico prior to moving over parts of Gaines County.

Additional thunderstorm development over the northwestern Permian Basin resulted in damaging winds that blew down a row of power poles along State Highway 214 northwest of Seminole. Sparking utility lines set the poles on fire after they were downed by the storm.

After the landspout tornado southwest of Seminole dissipated, a severe thunderstorm propagated toward the city from the northwest. This storm produced a downburst north of Seminole. The West Texas Mesonet site two miles north of of the city recorded a wind gust of 73 MPH. Police Department officials estimated 80 MPH winds as damaging winds spread south. Several power poles and lines were blown down by the winds. In addition, large tree limbs also were broken and at least one large tree was uprooted. A lack of structural damage suggested that the strongest winds did not occur within the city limits.

An intense supercell thunderstorm moved across the western sections of Gaines County. This storm resulted in damaging winds and large hail. Reports from the local emergency manager indicate eighty-seven power poles were blown down from the storm. Although reports of large hail were only confirmed in the two locations listed, evidence of wind driven hail was present in crop damage across a large part of western Gaines County.

The Texas Mesonet site at Seminole measured a severe thunderstorm wind gust of 87 MPH. The local emergencey manager and the local newspaper reported damage in the city of Seminole. Several power poles were blown down. In addition...minor to moderate structural damage was reported to a few buildings. Reports of tree damage were numerous.