Power Outage in Sterling City, TX

Tornado. A NWS Storm Survey was conducted for this tornado that was videotaped by many storm chasers throughout it's track across northern Sterling County. We found many snapped Mesquite tree trunks and plenty of tree limb damage. The tornado moved large wind turbine propellers at two different locations, and it snapped 16 power poles across two ranches. The tornado caused a wind mill stand to bend over. A nearby crane located about a mile south of the tornado track or in the rear flank downdraft, measured a wind speed of 109 mph. The twister destroyed a camper. ||The collective videotapes on social media from the many storm chasers, showed the tornado starting out as a multi-vortex tornado in the northwest part of Sterling County around 711 PM CDT, transitioning to a large cone near the wind farms, and then becoming rain wrapped as it struck the gas plant at around 747 PM CDT. As the tornado struck a gas plant on State Highway 163, it slung a large dumpster about 300 yards into a nearby pasture, snapped a telephone pole and threw a large Conix container about 50 feet. It also bent one of the towers on the plant. ||Many thanks to the Sterling County Sheriff's Department, the Stewart Ranch, National Weather Service Midland, other ranchers and all of the storm chasers for their excellent assistance.

May 17, 2021

Thunderstorm Wind. Law enforcement reported a power pole broken in half with the winds estimated at 80 mph.

May 15, 2018

Thunderstorm Wind. There was no power in Sterling City.

December 12, 2015

Thunderstorm Wind. A Sheriff's Department Official reported an overturned trailer, downed power lines and power poles, and a barn that lost its roof, in Western Sterling County.

January 28, 2010

Thunderstorm Wind. Power lines were damaged as a result of strong thunderstorm winds.

March 04, 2004