High Wind, Martin
- When
- June 16, 5:00 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
- Where
- Martin forecast zone
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph)
- Coordinates
- 32.306, -101.951 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind in Texas, June 16, 1997
A late-season cold front enhanced from thunderstorm outflow caused strong winds over much of the Permian Basin with winds estimated up to 70 mph in northeastern Midland and southwestern Martin Counties. Along I-20 in southwestern Martin County the combination of plowed fields and strong winds caused thick blowing dust that reduced visibilities reported as low as 10 yards by Department of Public…
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- 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.
What happened
The episode as NWS MAF wrote it up.
A late-season cold front enhanced from thunderstorm outflow caused strong winds over much of the Permian Basin with winds estimated up to 70 mph in northeastern Midland and southwestern Martin Counties. Along I-20 in southwestern Martin County the combination of plowed fields and strong winds caused thick blowing dust that reduced visibilities reported as low as 10 yards by Department of Public Safety troopers. A major accident occurred when an 18-wheeler slammed into a slowing car on the highway. In all six 18-wheelers and several other vehicles were involved in the accident that resulted in several injuries. Since the weather phenomena was only a partial player in the accident none of the damages or injuries will be officially recorded.The Midland County Fire Marshal estimated the wind gusts to be near 70 mph in the Greenwood area of northeast Midland County.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
High Wind, Midland
- When
- June 16, 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Midland forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 31.869, -102.032 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, June 16, 1997
- Flash Flooding in Kentucky, June 16 to 17, 1997
- Tornado in Florida, June 16, 1997
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Oklahoma, June 16, 1997
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, June 16 to 17, 1997
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, June 16, 1997
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, June 16, 1997
- Tornado in Alabama, June 16, 1997
- High Wind in New Mexico, June 16, 1997
- Flash Flood and Hail in Texas, June 16, 1997
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, June 16, 1997
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, June 16, 1997
More
Every storm in Texas in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, June 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: 5611432, 5611433.