Damaging Wind in Texas, August 17, 1997

Name: Damaging Wind in Texas, August 17, 1997
Start: 1997-08-17T22:00
End: 1997-08-17T22:00
Location: Texas

August 17, 1997 · NWS MAF · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 1
Property damage: $8,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The Midland/Odessa radar (KMAF), 70 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:58 UTC.

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Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dawson

When: August 17, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Dawson County, 17 mi SW of Lamesa
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $8,000
Coordinates: 32.570, -102.150

A microburst in southwest Dawson County caused damage on a couple of properties. One metal shed and two wooden sheds were destroyed by the winds. A greenhouse was heavily damaged and a travel trailer with two occupants was pushed up against an adjacent barn. One of the occupants sustained slight injuries to both of his knees from flying objects in the trailer. Corrugated metal was strewn around the area as well. Farther south a water pump was wrenched from its connections and was irreparable.A damage survey was accomplished finding a divergent pattern over an area about 1/2 mile wide. On the northeastern end of the damage, debris was blown to 310 degrees versus the water pump (to the south) was blown to 228 degrees. The damage survey team estimated a wind speed of 65 kt.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, August 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5622504.