Thunderstorm Wind in Clay County, Texas

Severe thunderstorm winds blew a train car off the tracks, which in turn caused the rest of the freight train to derail. In all, 30 cars and 2 engines were derailed. One train car smashed into two automobiles and a tractor trailer that were parked on a parallel highway. The 2 occupants of one of the automobiles were treated for minor injuries. Damage to the train and track was estimated at $2,000,000.

Summary of events of the afternoon and evening of August 17, 1997:Severe thunderstorms moved along and south of the Red River, producing large hail, damaging thunderstorm winds, and two tornadoes in western parts of north Texas. The tornadoes were observed south of Windthorst in Archer County. No damage was reported and both were rated at F0. The largest hail was reported near Harrold in Wilbarger County, where hail reached the size of golf balls. The most significant wind damage occurred in Clay County, where severe thunderstorm winds caused major damage to a group of houses and barns and then derailed a freight train near Jolly. Significant wind damage was also reported in the Henrietta area of Clay County and in Iowa park in Wichita County.See preceding individual Storm Data entries for further details and additional reports.