Power Outage in Sundown, TX

A supercell thunderstorm spawned an EF-2 tornado in far southwest Hockley County resulting in damage to oil field equipment, outbuildings, power poles, and storage tanks. Although the parent storm moved very slowly east throughout the tornado's life, a strong rear flank downdraft and occluding mesocyclone caused the tornado to veer sharply northward early in its life. This tornado began about 4 miles west-northwest of Sundown and moved northward for just over 5 miles in length before ending about 4.2 miles southeast of Whiteface. Photos and video from a storm chaser captured the evolution of this tornado. The tornado began as a compact debris cloud that became weak and diffuse just minutes before a narrow, fully condensed tornado emerged within wrapping rain curtains. At this point, a satellite funnel was observed along the periphery of the tornado, but this funnel is not believed to have become tornadic. After being largely obscured in rain for nearly five minutes, the tornado re-emerged as a fully condensed cone shape just before crossing FM Road 1585 and finally dissipating north of the road. The end time of the tornado was approximated from NWS Lubbock radar data. A NWS storm survey discovered scattered damage throughout portions of the tornado's track - the most intense of which was rated EF-2 over the southern portion of its path. Specifically, in excess of one dozen power poles were snapped at their base and a free-standing metal tower at a well site was bent. In a surrounding field, a wide swath of mesquite trees with branches of 1 to 3 inches in diameter were sheared off. This damage suggested maximum wind speeds were likely around 115 mph. Farther north at the abandoned Oxy facility located on FM 1585 west of Sampson Post Road, a large portion of a metal roof was removed and a nearby metal building was shifted off its foundation. Also, a large tree on the property was uprooted. This portion of damage was rated EF-0. North of the Oxy facility, EF-0 damage was noted to two fiberglass tank batteries with the top of one completely removed. The NWS in Lubbock would like to thank Hockley County emergency management for assisting with this storm survey.

Local newspapers reported that thunderstorm winds downed several utility lines and caused moderate damage to cotton crops northwest and north of Sundown. A number of area residences experienced power outages as a result. Agriculture experts said that 30 percent of the crops were damaged along the storm's path and that winds stripped leaves from the cotton plants.

Strong thunderstorm wind blew down power lines and snapped power poles on Farm-to-Market Road 301 near town. A roof of a building at the golf course was damaged.