Dust Storm — Sherman, Texas

2013-11-16 · Sherman, Texas

Event narrative

Lower visibilities led to a multiple car pile up on US Highway 287. Seven people were taken to the hospital with one listed in serious condition.

Wider weather episode

The Texas Panhandle experienced a windy day with some locations reaching high wind criteria during the early afternoon hours of the 16th. The surface pressure gradient across the Texas Panhandle increased through the morning hours of the 16th in response to a closed surface low over northeastern Iowa. This strengthening pressure gradient increased sustained surface winds across the Panhandles into the 35 mph to 40 mph range. Sherman, Ochiltree, Hartley, and Moore counties saw sustained surface wind of 40 mph for 2 to 3 hours due to a slightly stronger pressure gradient across those counties. These high winds picked up dust and dirt which caused near zero visibility on U.S Highway 287 south of the town of Stratford (Sherman County). The low visibility led to a multiple-car pile-up involving 5 cars and two tractor trailers around 2:00 PM CST. Seven of the 14 people involved were taken to the hospital with only one being listed in serious condition. By 3 PM CST, the surface pressure gradient across the Texas Panhandle weakened as a closed surface low moved into southeastern Colorado which brought an end to the lower visibilities.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 481608. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.