Dust Storm — Lubbock, Texas

2012-12-19 · Lubbock, Texas

Event narrative

A significant dust storm swept into Lubbock County early this afternoon and did not release its grip until shortly after 1830 CST. Officially, dust storm conditions (visibility at or below 1/2 mile) were observed by the Lubbock Airport weather observers for 5 hours and 38 minutes making this the longest duration dust storm at the airport since December 16, 1977. Westerly winds sustained around 40 mph with gusts at times as high as 66 mph created dangerously low visibility particularly in rural areas. Near-zero visibility along a stretch of Interstate 27 in northern Lubbock County contributed to a 27 car pile-up near New Deal that fatally injured a 63 year old man and injured 17 others, some severely. Due to the hazardous winds, flight-for-life helicopters were grounded. Some of the injured were transported to the Lubbock UMC Hospital via a newly acquired mobile triage unit. An unknown number of less significant vehicle accidents were reported throughout the city of Lubbock and also along Highway 84 near Slaton. At the Lubbock Airport, all air traffic was suspended during the afternoon resulting in additional stress for holiday travelers. Widespread power outages were noted primarily in northern sections of Lubbock and also in Levelland after high winds damaged power lines. The high winds also created sporadic instances of minor property damage. Much of this damage consisted of damaged fences, fallen tree limbs, and damage to outdoor Christmas lights and lawn decorations. These damages along with the total economic impacts will likely push combined losses to $1 million.

Wider weather episode

A historic dust storm engulfed much of the South Plains this afternoon resulting in dust storm conditions (visibilities at or below 1/2 mile in blowing dust) at the Lubbock International Airport for the longest duration since December 16, 1977. The culprit for this exceptional dust storm was a surface cyclone rapidly deepening in far southwest Kansas ahead of a vigorous upper level trough exiting the southern Rockies. Along the southern periphery of this trough, a deep layer wind maximum overspread the Texas South Plains during the afternoon behind a Pacific cold front. Initially, a layer of thick high clouds prevented these winds from mixing to the surface behind the front, but as the late morning and afternoon wore on, these clouds departed and allowed high winds with frequent gusts around 60 mph to stir up extensive blowing dust on the Caprock. The highest wind gusts as measured by the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet developed in Lubbock and Floyd Counties where peak wind gusts of 66 and 72 mph were recorded, respectively. Visibilities fell abruptly to 1/2 mile or less in many rural areas, with near-zero visibility at times as documented by TV news reporters along Interstate 27 in southern Hale and northern Lubbock Counties. These conditions contributed to a deadly 25-vehicle pileup on I-27 just south of New Deal. One man was fatally injured and at least 17 others suffered injuries of varying severity. Law enforcement promptly closed the interstate in both directions for several hours. Also, a mobile triage unit from UMC Hospital was dispatched for the first time ever to assist with accident victims as flight-for-life helicopters were grounded due to the high winds. Several flights at Lubbock International Airport were grounded until wind and visibility improved by early evening. This significant dust storm was forecast exceptionally well by meteorologists at the Lubbock NWS who provided residents with just over seven hours notice that dangerously low visibilities from blowing dust were inevitable by midday. For some cell phone users in the region, the newly-developed Commercial Mobile Alert System alerted them for the first time of life-threatening weather.

A list of severe wind gusts measured by the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet and Automated Surface Observing Systems follows:

66 mph at Lubbock International Airport (Lubbock County)...62 mph at Wolfforth (Lubbock County)...61 mph at Reese Center (Lubbock County)...60 mph at Denver City (Yoakum County)...59 mph at Lubbock (Lubbock County), O'Donnell (Lynn County), Roaring Springs (Motley County), and Memphis (Hall County)...58 mph at Abernathy (Hale County), Floydada (Floyd County), Turkey (Hall County), Silverton (Briscoe County), Olton (Lamb County), and White River Lake (Crosby County).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 418711. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.