Thunderstorm Wind in Taylor County, Texas

A National Weather Service Storm Survey determined that a microburst from a severe thunderstorm occurred across northern portions of Abilene. The 199 foot tower at the KTXS TV station was bent and pushed over onto the roof and all the way to the other side of the property, while the base of the tower stayed intact. Meanwhile,

in the rear of the KTXS TV station facility, a large, heavy air

conditioning unit on top of the garage being blown over was likely

the cause of the roof caving in and the partial collapse of the

exterior brick walls of the garage. Finally, the roof of the

carport in the rear of the KTXS TV station was blown off, with one

panel of the roof being sent to the other side of the building.

Due to this structural damage, peak winds were estimated at 90 mph.

Elsewhere in northern Abilene, there was widespread tree damage

(large broken tree limbs, some trees uprooted), road signs were

bent or blown over, a drive in movie theater screen was destroyed,

and the roof of a single family residence was heavily damaged.

Also, a brick wall in front of the HSU football field stands was

partially collapsed.

The combination of a strong upper level area of low pressure and a cold front resulted in numerous severe thunderstorms across the Big Country during the late afternoon and night time hours. Also, extreme surface instability and strong wind shear helped produce supercell thunderstorms and significant severe weather. The severe storms produced very large hail and intense damaging winds including significant wind damage at the KTXS television studio in Abilene, Texas and a swath of damaging winds from a downburst in Fisher County. The strongest wind speeds ranged from 85 to 100 mph with some of these severe storms.