Thunderstorm Wind — Castro, Texas

2014-05-21 · near Hart, Castro, Texas

$2.0M

Property damage

56 MG

Magnitude

Event narrative

Local fire department and emergency management officials reported wind damage in and around Hart associated with a severe thunderstorm downburst. A freestanding grain dryer was blown over against a grain tank at the intersection of Highway 194 and Farm to Market Road 168. A couple of center pivot irrigation systems were also blown over as the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site in town recorded a 64 mph wind gust. Additionally, hail of up to penny size was observed.

Wider weather episode

A sharp upper level shortwave trough swept across eastern New Mexico ahead of a larger scale low pressure system over the Great Basin. Thunderstorms initiated along a dryline positioned near the Texas and New Mexico state line, producing several severe wind gusts in the relatively dry sub-cloud layer. Wind gusts on the order of 60 to 65 mph occurred, with the most significant damage taking place from Hart (Castro County) to Tulia (Swisher County).

View location on OpenStreetMap → (34.3780, -102.1090)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 507863. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.