Thunderstorm Wind — Gaines, Texas

2007-06-26 · near Seminole, Gaines, Texas

Event narrative

A damage survey was conducted by NWS personnel the morning following the winds. The results of the damage survey follow.

Winds were measured at 97.5 mph at the West Texas Mesonet site two miles north northeast of Seminole, however, there is visual indication that wind speeds in some locations around Seminole, were at times even stronger ' estimated in the range of 100-120 mph. Communication tower damage, where a tower measuring 320 feet in height fell on a church and another tall tower was bent into the shape of a rectangle, both suggest higher wind speed estimates. Additionally, three miles east southeast of Seminole along County Road 402, at least eight wooden power poles were snapped just above the ground. This further supports the idea that winds were at times greater than 100 mph.

NWS personnel found many trees were uprooted and tree limbs down. The entire town of Seminole experienced damage, with areas just west of downtown and just east of town being hardest hit by the damaging winds.

The extent of the wind damage prompted the Gaines County EOC to request EMS/Fire assistance from Hobbs, NM. Included in the damage were two mobile homes that were rolled. One of these homes had four people inside, including one infant. All four were injured and the infant was kept for observation overnight at a Lubbock hospital.

Backup generators at the Emergency Operations center lost power as well as commercial power to much of Seminole.

Wider weather episode

A strong squall line associated with a frontal boundary and weak upper level disturbance moved into the forecast area causing widespread severe weather and isolated flooding. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued at 6:10 PM CDT and remained in effect until 1 AM CDT and was then extended until 5 AM as the line continued to push south. Damage reports began reaching the office around 9:30 PM CDT (8:30 MDT) as the line entered the northwestern portion of the forecast area and continued until 3:30 AM CDT when the line exited the forecast area.

As the storm entered Lea County New Mexico, reports of wind speeds in excess of 70 mph began coming into the office. These high winds continued as the line surged forward into West Texas. In Seminole, 98 mph (measured) wind speeds toppled several radio towers including a 320 foot tower that fell on a church and bus damaging both. In addition, the roof of Beall's Department store was destroyed and two mobile homes were rolled and destroyed injuring four people.

As the line continued its southward progression, so did the damaging winds. Many locations began experiencing power outages including two of the three television stations in the Midland/Odessa area, and Midland International Airport. WFO Midland and the Gaines County Emergency Operation Center continued working on back up generator power until commercial power was restored to the area. A 93 mph wind gust was measured at Midland International Airport just prior to the power loss, which rendered it inoperable for the remainder of the night.

The event continued into the early morning hours on Wednesday, where Dryden reported a 63 mph wind gust prior to thunderstorms exiting the area.

Post storm damage surveys indicated that damage across the area was caused by a derecho. A derecho is a 'widespread and long-lived wind storm associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms.'

While straight-line winds are common across West Texas ' especially during the late spring and early summer ' the magnitude of the wind speeds for this event is quite rare. As an example, the 93 mph wind reported in Midland eclipsed the old record of 86 mph set in February 1960, and was the strongest wind ever recorded in Midland since the NWS began official record keeping in 1930.

During this long-lived weather episode, all but two of the 26 counties within WFO Midland's CWA experienced severe weather. The majority of these locations experienced high wind events, which resulted in power outages across the area. Because of backup power capability, WFO Midland was able to maintain warning operations throughout the entire severe weather event.

Summary of measured wind reports:

Dryden (K6R6) - 55 kts (63 mph)

Big Spring (KBPG) - 51 kts (59 mph)

Fort Stockton (KFST) - 57 kts (66 mph)

Guadalupe Pass (KGDP) - 62 kts (71 mph)

Wink (KINK) - 58 kts (67 mph)

Midland (KMAF) - 81 kts (93 mph)*

Odessa (KODO) - 55 kts (63 mph)

Seagraves 1 SW (KSGV) - 66 kts (76 mph)

Andrews 2 E (KANS) - 51 kts (59 mph)*

Seminole 2 NNE (KSMS) - 85 kts (98 mph)*

Lamesa 2 SE (KLES) - 45 kts (52 mph)*

Gail 2 ESE (KGGS) - 43 kts (50 mph)*

Pecos (KPEQ) - 56 kts (64 mph)

McDonald Observatory - 61 kts (70 mph)

Tatum, NM Co-op Observer - 68 kts (78 mph)

*These sites lost power shortly after observations, it may be assumed that peak wind gusts were somewhat higher than observed.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.7200, -102.6500)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 36477. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.