Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, September 14, 1998

An isolated severe thunderstorm rapidly intensified as it moved to the south into Northern Gaines County just east of Seagraves. Doppler radar showed this storm to have VILs in excess of 50 kg/m2 for several volume scans as it entered the county. VILs and low-level reflectivity decreased significantly during and shortly after the time severe weather was reported. The MAF evening sounding suggested the potential for hybrid microbursts, with wind gusts over 75 knots possible.A trailer house and barn one mile east of the city limits were demolished, and the roofs off three hangars at the municipal airport farther east of town were partly or totally removed. Other structures from eastern city limits to a couple miles east of the city limits incurred similar damage. The most costly damage was to the cotton crops, which were days away from being harvested. Winds estimated at or above 80 mph levelled these crops with pea-sized and smaller hail. A 17,000 pound tractor was also moved over 100 feet and 23 center-pivot irrigation systems were at least overturned.

A mixture of hail and wind caused devastating damage to cotton crops in the area. Heavy damage was done to about 4000 acres of cotton while light damage was done to about 16,000 acres.

After pounding the areas east of Seagraves, this storm caused additional structural damage to power poles a half hour later. Many people in Loop were consequently without power for several hours.