Thunderstorm Wind in Hopkins County, Texas

A survey team found areas of enhanced wind damage northwest of Sulphur Springs in Hopkins County. Most of the observed damage was consistent with wind speeds around 90 mph. The most significant damage was observed at the Cross Spur Arena where the front of a metal structure was uplifted, causing the front of the structure to collapse. This damage was consistent with maximum wind speeds of 95 mph. Significant tree damage was also observed near the Cross Spur Arena and along County Road 4760 and County Road 4763. None of this damage was convergent and generally in an east to north direction. A few additional swaths of notable damage were found along County Road 4759 and County Road 4763 where snapped and uprooted trees were observed along with roof/siding damage at a few homes. A mobile home on County Road 4761 had its roof removed, but all walls remained standing. Review of the damage and all available radar evidence, all suggest the Hopkins County damage was the result of locally enhanced straight-line winds. Most of the more notable damage occurred in areas of notches or bows along the leading edge of the morning storms, which is where locally enhanced winds typically occur that can cause higher-end damage.

A deep upper trough moving east through the Plains was accompanied by a Pacific cold front, along which a line of strong to severe thunderstorms developed early in the morning of March 4. This line of storms produced damaging winds in the 80-100 mph at times, a few hail reports, and two tornadoes as it pushed east through North and Central Texas the morning of March 4. The damaging thunderstorm winds left notable widespread damage across mostly North Texas. In the afternoon hours following this system, a High Wind Warning was in effect for some of the western half of the region for strong gradient winds and wind gusts behind the front. Gusts over 60 mph were observed.