Wildfire and High Wind in Texas, March 12 to 17, 2006

The Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet recorded a total of seven severe wind gusts across the South Plains region during the daytime hours on the 12th. The high westerly winds, with gusts up to 62 MPH, blew dust and smoke from ongoing wildfires over much of the region. The visibilities were dramatically reduced during much of the afternoon. Minor roof damage to several homes was reported in Lubbock, and a few power lines were additionally blown down by the winds. No injuries were reported.Friona (Parmer County)..........59 MPHTulia (Swisher County)...........60 MPHSilverton (Briscoe County)......59 MPHTahoka (Lynn County)............59 MPHLubbock (Lubbock County).....58 MPHHart (Castro County)..............62 MPHPlains (Yoakum County)........60 MPH

The Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet recorded a total of seven severe wind gusts across the South Plains region during the daytime hours on the 12th. The high westerly winds, with gusts up to 62 MPH, blew dust and smoke from ongoing wildfires over much of the region. The visibilities were dramatically reduced during much of the afternoon. Minor roof damage to several homes was reported in Lubbock, and a few power lines were additionally blown down by the winds. No injuries were reported.Friona (Parmer County)..........59 MPHTulia (Swisher County)...........60 MPHSilverton (Briscoe County)......59 MPHTahoka (Lynn County)............59 MPHLubbock (Lubbock County).....58 MPHHart (Castro County)..............62 MPHPlains (Yoakum County)........60 MPH

The Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet recorded a total of seven severe wind gusts across the South Plains region during the daytime hours on the 12th. The high westerly winds, with gusts up to 62 MPH, blew dust and smoke from ongoing wildfires over much of the region. The visibilities were dramatically reduced during much of the afternoon. Minor roof damage to several homes was reported in Lubbock, and a few power lines were additionally blown down by the winds. No injuries were reported.Friona (Parmer County)..........59 MPHTulia (Swisher County)...........60 MPHSilverton (Briscoe County)......59 MPHTahoka (Lynn County)............59 MPHLubbock (Lubbock County).....58 MPHHart (Castro County)..............62 MPHPlains (Yoakum County)........60 MPH

The Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet recorded a total of seven severe wind gusts across the South Plains region during the daytime hours on the 12th. The high westerly winds, with gusts up to 62 MPH, blew dust and smoke from ongoing wildfires over much of the region. The visibilities were dramatically reduced during much of the afternoon. Minor roof damage to several homes was reported in Lubbock, and a few power lines were additionally blown down by the winds. No injuries were reported.Friona (Parmer County)..........59 MPHTulia (Swisher County)...........60 MPHSilverton (Briscoe County)......59 MPHTahoka (Lynn County)............59 MPHLubbock (Lubbock County).....58 MPHHart (Castro County)..............62 MPHPlains (Yoakum County)........60 MPH

The Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet recorded a total of seven severe wind gusts across the South Plains region during the daytime hours on the 12th. The high westerly winds, with gusts up to 62 MPH, blew dust and smoke from ongoing wildfires over much of the region. The visibilities were dramatically reduced during much of the afternoon. Minor roof damage to several homes was reported in Lubbock and a few power lines were additionally blown down by the winds. No injuries were reported. A list of measured severe wind gusts follows:Friona (Parmer County)..........59 MPHTulia (Swisher County)...........60 MPHSilverton (Briscoe County)......59 MPHTahoka (Lynn County)............59 MPHLubbock (Lubbock County).....58 MPHHart (Castro County)...............62 MPHPlains (Yoakum County).........60 MPH

The Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet recorded a total of seven severe wind gusts across the South Plains region during the daytime hours on the 12th. The high westerly winds, with gusts up to 62 MPH, blew dust and smoke from ongoing wildfires over much of the region. Visibilities were dramatically reduced during much of the afternoon. Minor roof damage to several homes was reported in Lubbock, and a few power lines were additionally blown down by the winds. No injuries were reported.Friona (Parmer County)..........59 MPHTulia (Swisher County)...........60 MPHSilverton (Briscoe County)......59 MPHTahoka (Lynn County)............59 MPHLubbock (Lubbock County).....58 MPHHart (Castro County)..............62 MPHPlains (Yoakum County)........60 MPH

The Texas Tech West Texas Mesonet recorded a total of seven severe wind gusts across the South Plains region during the daytime hours on the 12th. The high westerly winds, with gusts up to 62 MPH, blew dust and smoke from ongoing wildfires over much of the region. The visibilities were dramatically reduced during much of the afternoon. Minor roof damage to several homes was reported in Lubbock and a few power lines were additionally blown down by the winds. No injuries were reported.Friona (Parmer County)..........59 MPHTulia (Swisher County)...........60 MPHSilverton (Briscoe County)......59 MPHTahoka (Lynn County)............59 MPHLubbock (Lubbock County).....58 MPHHart (Castro County)..............62 MPHPlains (Yoakum County)........60 MPH

Very large wind-driven wildfires burned tens of thousands of acres and destroyed property in association with the high winds on the 12th. At least a half dozen wildfires were sparked during the event, four were significant fires. The two largest fires burned out of control for nearly a week.A fire that began west of Abernathy in southern Hale County destroyed a rural residence just after noon. Another significant wildfire south of Morton in Cochran County destroyed two homes before it was contained during the afternoon hours of the 13th.Major wildfires charred 40,000 acres of open grassland in Cottle and Childress Counties. One massive fire ignited near the Cottle and Childress County line during the afternoon hours, and burned a swath six miles wide and fifteen miles long across southern Childress and northern Cottle Counties. Weather conditions remained favorable for explosive fire growth and behavior through much of the overnight hours as a passing cold front maintained strong winds and continued to usher in very dry air. A second fire was sparked near U.S. Highway 62/83 just north of Paducah around midnight. The complex of fires in Childress and Cottle Counties continued to burn until light rain aided in extinguishing them late on the 17th. Although several structures were threatened and several head of livestock perished, no significant structural damage or injuries were reported.

Very large wind-driven wildfires burned tens of thousands of acres and destroyed property in association with the high winds on the 12th. At least a half dozen wildfires were sparked during the event, four were significant fires. The two largest fires burned out of control for nearly a week.A fire that began west of Abernathy in southern Hale County destroyed a rural residence just after noon. Another significant wildfire south of Morton in Cochran County destroyed two homes before it was contained during the afternoon hours of the 13th.Major wildfires charred 40,000 acres of open grassland in Cottle and Childress Counties. One massive fire ignited near the Cottle and Childress County line during the afternoon hours, and burned a swath six miles wide and fifteen miles long across southern Childress and northern Cottle Counties. Weather conditions remained favorable for explosive fire growth and behavior through much of the overnight hours as a passing cold front maintained strong winds and continued to usher in very dry air. A second fire was sparked near U.S. Highway 62/83 just north of Paducah around midnight. The complex of fires in Childress and Cottle Counties continued to burn until light rain aided in extinguishing them late on the 17th. Although several structures were threatened and several head of livestock perished, no significant structural damage or injuries were reported.

Very large wind-driven wildfires burned tens of thousands of acres and destroyed property in association with the high winds on the 12th. At least a half dozen wildfires were sparked during the event, four were significant fires. The two largest fires burned out of control for nearly a week.A fire that began west of Abernathy in southern Hale County destroyed a rural residence just after noon. Another significant wildfire south of Morton in Cochran County destroyed two homes before it was contained during the afternoon hours of the 13th.Major wildfires charred 40,000 acres of open grassland in Cottle and Childress Counties. One massive fire ignited near the Cottle and Childress County line during the afternoon hours, and burned a swath six miles wide and fifteen miles long across southern Childress and northern Cottle Counties. Weather conditions remained favorable for explosive fire growth and behavior through much of the overnight hours as a passing cold front maintained strong winds and continued to usher in very dry air. A second fire was sparked near U.S. Highway 62/83 just north of Paducah around midnight. The complex of fires in Childress and Cottle Counties continued to burn until light rain aided in extinguishing them late on the 17th. Although several structures were threatened and several head of livestock perished, no significant structural damage or injuries were reported.

Very large wind-driven wildfires burned tens of thousands of acres and destroyed property in association with the high winds on the 12th. At least a half dozen wildfires were sparked during the event, four were significant fires. The two largest fires burned out of control for nearly a week.A fire that began west of Abernathy in southern Hale County destroyed a rural residence just after noon. Another significant wildfire south of Morton in Cochran County destroyed two homes before it was contained during the afternoon hours of the 13th.Major wildfires charred 40,000 acres of open grassland in Cottle and Childress Counties. One massive fire ignited near the Cottle and Childress County line during the afternoon hours, and burned a swath six miles wide and fifteen miles long across southern Childress and northern Cottle Counties. Weather conditions remained favorable for explosive fire growth and behavior through much of the overnight hours as a passing cold front maintained strong winds and continued to usher in very dry air. A second fire was sparked near U.S. Highway 62/83 just north of Paducah around midnight. The complex of fires in Childress and Cottle Counties continued to burn until light rain aided in extinguishing them late on the 17th. Although several structures were threatened and several head of livestock perished, no significant structural damage or injuries were reported.

Very large wind-driven wildfires burned tens of thousands of acres and destroyed property in association with the high winds on the 12th. At least a half dozen wildfires were sparked during the event, four were significant fires. The two largest fires burned out of control for nearly a week.A fire that began west of Abernathy in southern Hale County destroyed a rural residence just after noon. Another significant wildfire south of Morton in Cochran County destroyed two homes before it was contained during the afternoon hours of the 13th.Major wildfires charred 40,000 acres of open grassland in Cottle and Childress Counties. One massive fire ignited near the Cottle and Childress County line during the afternoon hours, and burned a swath six miles wide and fifteen miles long across southern Childress and northern Cottle Counties. Weather conditions remained favorable for explosive fire growth and behavior through much of the overnight hours as a passing cold front maintained strong winds and continued to usher in very dry air. A second fire was sparked near U.S. Highway 62/83 just north of Paducah around midnight. The complex of fires in Childress and Cottle Counties continued to burn until light rain aided in extinguishing them late on the 17th. Although several structures were threatened and several head of livestock perished, no significant structural damage or injuries were reported.