High Wind in Randall, Texas

A deepening low pressure system over the central Plains states resulted in a tight pressure gradient across the Texas panhandle during the late morning into the afternoon hours. Sixty to sixty-five mile an hour gusts were measured at Vega...Amarillo...and Claude. Forty-four mile an hour sustained winds were measured at Panhandle...fifty-eight mile an hour gusts were measured at McLean...forty-six mile an hour sustained winds were measured at Hereford...and sixty mile an hour gusts were measured at Clarendon. The high winds in Randall county caused visibilities from smoke from grass fires and blowing dust to be reduced to near zero and contributed to a seven-vehicle accident about seven miles south of Canyon on Interstate 27. One person was killed and three others were injured in the accident. The reduced visibilities also led the Department of Public Safety to close both lanes of Interstate 27 between Canyon and Happy and also U.S. Highway 60 east of Hereford.