Damaging Winds in Texas, July 28, 1997

Name: Damaging Winds in Texas, July 28, 1997
Start: 1997-07-28T18:20
End: 1997-07-28T19:25
Location: Texas

July 28, 1997 · NWS MAF · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

2 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: 0
Property damage: $60,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

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), 34 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:21 UTC.

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Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ector

When: July 28, 6:20 PM CST
Where: Ector County, 7 mi ENE of Penwell
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph)
Property damage: $60,000
Coordinates: 31.770, -102.480

A pulse microburst destroyed 5 trailer homes in a rural development in southwestern Ector County. Three other units received major damage. Most of the trailers were not tied down. Winds in the local area was blowing from SE to NW; the same direction as the storm movement. Since there was minimal damage to some more-substantial structures in the area, wind speeds were only estimated at 60-70 mph. In areas farther east it became evident that there was a downburst pattern, as winds were from the south or southwest.

Thunderstorm Wind, Presidio

When: July 28, 7:25 PM CST
Where: Presidio County, Redford
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 29.450, -104.180

Microburst winds measured by an anemometer.Downbursting potential was high with inverted-V soundings at 00z that evening, but storms were rather limited over the area. Most storms were of a pulse variety with a very short cell life.

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, July 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: 5611125, 5611126.