Thunderstorm Wind — Mitchell, Texas

2020-06-30 · near Colorado City Arpt, Mitchell, Texas

Event narrative

A thunderstorm moved across Mitchell County and produced straight-line wind damage about three miles east of Colorado City. There were five downed powerline poles along the south frontage road of I-20 between mile markers 221 and 222. An 86 car train was derailed about one mile south of the frontage road which caused a large fire. A long stretch of the track was also damaged. Based on the damage, the peak wind speeds were estimated by an NWS survey team to range between 80 to 100 mph. The cost of damage is a very rough estimate.

Wider weather episode

An upper level trough was over the western part of the country. Intense heating was occurring across West Texas. A dryline was across the eastern Permian Basin with very moist and unstable conditions along and to the east of this line. These conditions resulted in thunderstorms across Mitchell County that produced large hail and damaging winds.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.3969, -100.7975)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 904026. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.