Power Outage in Waco, TX

Damage occurred in McGregor around the High School and in areas to the north-northeast. Some track equipment was tossed at the high school stadium and a scoreboard was toppled. Large tree limbs were also snapped off trees. In addition, fences and power lines were down, and at least one metal carport crumpled.

Extreme cold gripped the county for several days. Overnight lows were below 25 degrees Fahrenheit almost all week. The period of February 15-16th was the coldest with low temperatures in the single digits and slightly below zero degrees Fahrenheit. The maximum temperature on the 15th was only in the teens. Wind chill values during the 14th-16th were between 10 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit most of the time. The cold temperatures resulted in an extreme amount of damage to pipes, infrastructure, and power. The State listed 1 fatality in McLennan County due to the winter storm but no additional information could be obtained.

Several trees and power lines were blown down by thunderstorm winds in China Spring.

Large trees and power lines were blown down due to strong thunderstorm winds in McGregor.

Strong thunderstorm winds caused tree damage and downed power lines along a stretch from north Waco to downtown Waco. Large trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds on Lake Shore Drive near McLennan Community College. Four large trees were also down at 19th Street and Tanglewood Ave near the McLennan Community College. Other downed large tree limbs and splintered trees were reported along the path towards downtown Waco.

Strong thunderstorm winds caused tree damage and downed power lines along a stretch from north Waco to downtown Waco. Large trees were blown down by thunderstorm winds on Lake Shore Drive near McLennan Community College. Four large trees were also down at 19th Street and Tanglewood Ave near the McLennan Community College. Other downed large tree limbs and splintered trees were reported along the path towards downtown Waco.

The automated surface observation system at the Waco Airport reported a 77 MPH wind. There were multiple trees down around the airport and near China Springs. Power outages were reported near the airport.

The automated surface observation system at the Waco Airport reported a 77 MPH wind. There were multiple trees down around the airport and near China Springs. Power outages were reported near the airport.

A large tree was uprooted by a thunderstorm wind gust in McGregor. Numerous power outages were also reported around the city.

Tree limbs were down in west Waco. The power was out for about 2,500 customers in Waco.

A transformer was blown over in Waco. Several road and stop signs were down in Downtown Waco and 20 to 30 windows were blown out of an apartment building on Austin Avenue and 13th Street. A tree was blown onto a house on Morrow Avenue. Power lines were also down in Waco.

Icy tree limbs fell on power lines, causing power outages in Waco.

Large limbs downed power lines and caused power outages across the county.

Sustained winds between 20 and 30 MPH with higher gusts caused a dead tree to fall, taking a power pole with it. The tree and the pole blocked traffic on Morrow Avenue in Waco.

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth conducted a damge survey and found that damge which occurred northwest of Lorena was due to a downburst. Damage was noted along FM 2416 and Chapel Road just north of FM 2113. Several trees were pushed over...large limbs were broken...shingles removed from roofs...and sheds damaged...and lawn equipment thrown around. Farther east...between Chapel Road and FM 2837...additional damage was noted to trees and a frame of a house under construction. Several mobile homes just west of FM 2837 had portions of their lower skirtings removed. A power pole was pushed over along FM 2113 west of FM 2837. Maximum winds were likely 65-70 MPH.

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth conducted a damge survey and found that damge which occurred northwest of Lorena was due to a downburst. Damage was noted along FM 2416 and Chapel Road just north of FM 2113. Several trees were pushed over...large limbs were broken...shingles removed from roofs...and sheds damaged...and lawn equipment thrown around. Farther east...between Chapel Road and FM 2837...additional damage was noted to trees and a frame of a house under construction. Several mobile homes just west of FM 2837 had portions of their lower skirtings removed. A power pole was pushed over along FM 2113 west of FM 2837. Maximum winds were likely 65-70 MPH.

A brief tornado touched down in the middle of a baseball game, pushing over a dumpster and causing damage to trees and light poles. A woman was thrown against a fence and had to be taken to the hospital. Many spectators at the ballfield saw the tornado, and had to hold the bleachers down so they would not be picked up. Large tree limbs fell on nearby power lines, causing a power outage in the area for about five hours. Another limb shattered a truck windshield. Nearby residents reported that the tornado also threw a heavyweight lifting bench weighing 150 lbs across a yard and damaged a garage door.

A quarter-inch of ice formed on trees, power lines, and roads. Eighteen accidents were blamed on the ice-covered roadways. Additionally, about 4,000 people in McLennan County were without power as broken limbs and ice weighed down power lines. Waco Regional Airport was also without power for much of the day on Monday.

Strong winds blew down numerous trees and tree limbs, as well as power lines around the county. A tree was uprooted and fell on two cars at the Shops of River Square Center. The winds also helped fan a fire which destroyed six houseboats and damaged two others at Lake Waco Marina. In addition, a small gas line broke due to the high winds, and several flights out of area airports were cancelled.

Isolated wind damage was noted in western McLennan County, including Crawford, Valley Mills, McGregor, and western Waco. Widespread wind damage occurred across southern McLennan County near Woodway, McGregor, Speegleville, Hewitt, Robinson, Bruceville-Eddy, and south Waco. The damage extended along and south of the Highway 6 corridor. A large sycamore tree was uprooted in McGregor and fell onto a parked car. Three tractor trailers were blown over on Interstate 35 near mile marker 329...about 7 miles south-southwest of Waco. Thousands of trees, power lines, and signs were blown down across the county. Power was knocked out throughout Waco. Winds of 50-80 MPH damaged roofs and blew one roof onto a police patrol car. Roof damage was reported at the Ace Hardware on Hewitt Drive, two miles north of Hewitt; at the Masterfoods/M&M Mars building on Texas Central Parkway, two miles north-northeast of Hewitt; and at the Colorite Corporation on Jewitt Lane, two miles northwest of the community of Elm Mott. A 2,400 square foot house was lifted from its concrete foundation and deposited several yards away. The builder estimated damages at $100,000. A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service in Fort Worth determined that a downburst was responsible for the damage. Due to the extent of the damage, a countywide disaster declaration was issued by the McLennan County judge.

A tornado was reported on Waco Drive by the media, just north of the damage swath produced by the downburst. A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service in Fort Worth found that a tornado formed south of New Road and just west of Spur 298 (Franklin Avenue), or just north of Richland Mall. The tornado reached its peak intensity of lower F2 and did the most damage just east of Spur 298. Several commercial buildings had large sections of their roofs and walls damaged. A Coca-Cola Bottling Plant lost much of its roof and most of its inventory was damaged. A spokesman for the company stated that the tornado did well over $1 million worth of damage. An owner of an auto repair shop which was badly damaged estimated damages at $600,000. A horse barn owned by Baylor University was leveled and two horses killed. Numerous trees were downed and power lines snapped in and east of this area. The circulation weakened as it approached Interstate 35, and the tornado dissipated approximately three-fourths of a mile east of Interstate 35. A countywide disaster declaration was issued by the McLennan County judge.

Numerous power lines and trees were blown down and minor roof damage was reported. Also, a barn was destroyed near Hewitt.

Roof damage and numerous power outages.

Report from channel 25 in Waco. The west side of Waco was the hardest hit section of town by the high winds. One business was unroofed, with numerous reports of trees blown onto homes, and power lines blown down.

Metal roofing was blown onto a transmitter, resulting in a power failure for several hours. The roofing was blown down by high thunderstorm winds.