Wildfire and High Wind in Texas, January 29 to 30, 2008

Name: Wildfire and High Wind in Texas, January 29 to 30, 2008
Start: 2008-01-29T07:00
End: 2008-01-30T04:00
Location: Texas

January 29 to 30, 2008 · NWS FWD · 20 events in 14 counties and zones

There were dozens of reports of damage due to strong winds as a powerful low pressure system and cold front moved through the state.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 20 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $3.3 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 20

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 FWD wrote it up.

There were dozens of reports of damage due to strong winds as a powerful low pressure system and cold front moved through the state.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Fort Worth, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 29, 5:08 AM CST, 1 hour 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 29, 5:08 AM CST, 1 hour 52 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
508 AM CST TUE JAN 29 2008

.AVIATION...
508 AM CST.
CONCERNS...STRONG LOW LEVEL WINDS AND CROSS WINDS.

MVFR CIGS ARE PUSHING EAST EARLY THIS MORNING AND MAY ONLY AFFECT
KDAL AND KACT 12-14Z BEFORE DEPARTING THE AREA. AFTERWARD...SKIES
SHOULD CLEAR FOR THE AFTERNOON.  A SURFACE TROUGH WILL ZIP ACROSS
THE TAF SITES BY MID MORNING THEN A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL ARRIVE BY
EARLY AFTERNOON.  WE ARE EXPECTING SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS OF 20 TO
35 KTS THIS MORNING...THEN NORTHWEST WINDS OF 30 TO 40 KT THIS
AFTERNOON. THE GUST POTENTIAL IS UP TO 45 KTS DURING THE EARLY AND
MID AFTERNOON HOURS. THESE STRONG WINDS MAY ALSO LIFT AND TRANSPORT
WEST TEXAS DUST ACROSS NORTH TEXAS FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH MID
AFTERNOON...THUS WE HAVE MVFR VISIBILITIES FOR BLOWING DUST.

VFR TONIGHT WITH WINDS DIMINISHING QUICKLY...THEN VEERING TO THE
SOUTHEAST BY 10Z.  75

.PREV DISCUSSION...
400 AM CST.
A COLD FRONT THAT EXTENDED FROM NORTHWESTERN MISSOURI SOUTHEAST INTO
SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO AS OF 09Z...WILL SWEEP RAPIDLY SOUTHEAST
THROUGH NORTH TEXAS TODAY. SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH
WILL BECOME WEST BY MIDDAY AND NORTHWEST AT SPEEDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH
DURING THE AFTERNOON. THERE WILL LIKELY BE SOME GUSTS OVER 45
MPH...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN ZONES. THUS A WIND
ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF NORTH TEXAS. WE MAY ALSO SEE
SOME DUST LATER TODAY AS THE STRONG WEST AND NORTHWEST WINDS KICK
UP...BUT WILL NOT INCLUDE THIS IN THE WORDED FORECAST AT THIS TIME.
GIVEN THE STRONG WINDS AND MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES...WE WILL
KEEP THE RED FLAG WARNING AS IS. TEMPERATURES WILL BE TRICKY
WITH SOME SITES CURRENTLY NEAR THEIR FORECAST HIGHS. THE WINDS WILL
DECREASE QUICKLY THIS EVENING AND BECOME EAST TO SOUTHEAST AFTER
MIDNIGHT AS A SURFACE HIGH QUICKLY MOVES ACROSS AND THEN TO THE EAST
OF NORTH TEXAS. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE WEDNESDAY AS A LEE
SIDE TROUGH DEVELOPS. THUS THERE WILL BE A HIGH FIRE DANGER ONCE
AGAIN WEDNESDAY AND A FIRE WEATHER WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF
NORTH TEXAS. AS ANOTHER SHORTWAVE AND ACCOMPANYING COLD FRONT
APPROACH AND THEN MOVE ACROSS NORTH TEXAS...WE WILL SEE A SLIGHT
CHANCE OF SHOWERS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. AN ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORM WILL BE POSSIBLE LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT ACROSS THE
SOUTHEASTERN ZONES. AS THE UPPER LEVEL LOW MOVES ACROSS SOUTHERN
OKLAHOMA INTO ARKANSAS A BRIEF RAIN/SNOW MIX WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE
EXTREME NORTHEASTERN ZONES....HOWEVER....NO SNOW ACCUMULATION IS
EXPECTED. RAIN CHANCES WILL RETURN SUNDAY INTO MONDAY...BUT RAINFALL
AMOUNTS LOOK TO BE LIGHT ONCE AGAIN. #58

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX  69  30  59  44  56 /  10   5   5  40  20
WACO, TX              73  31  63  45  58 /  20   5   5  40  30
PARIS, TX             69  27  55  37  51 /  30   5   5  40  50
DENTON, TX            68  29  61  39  52 /  10   5   5  30  20
MCKINNEY, TX          69  29  56  39  53 /  20   5   5  40  20
DALLAS, TX            69  32  59  44  56 /  20   5   5  40  20
TERRELL, TX           69  32  58  42  55 /  20   5   5  40  30
CORSICANA, TX         71  32  59  42  62 /  30   5   5  50  40
TEMPLE, TX            73  32  64  45  64 /  20   5   5  40  30

&&

.FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
RED FLAG WARNING FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175.

FIRE WEATHER WATCH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175.

WIND ADVISORY FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 6 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES:
TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175.

&&

58/58

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 29, 4:04 AM CST, 2 hours 56 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR NORTH TEXAS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
404 AM CST TUE JAN 29 2008

TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-301100-
ANDERSON-BELL-BOSQUE-COLLIN-COMANCHE-COOKE-CORYELL-DALLAS-DELTA-
DENTON-EASTLAND-ELLIS-ERATH-FALLS-FANNIN-FREESTONE-GRAYSON-HAMILTON-
HENDERSON-HILL-HOOD-HOPKINS-HUNT-JACK-JOHNSON-KAUFMAN-LAMAR-LAMPASAS-
LEON-LIMESTONE-MCLENNAN-MILAM-MILLS-MONTAGUE-NAVARRO-PALO PINTO-
PARKER-RAINS-ROBERTSON-ROCKWALL-SOMERVELL-STEPHENS-TARRANT-VAN ZANDT-
WISE-YOUNG-
404 AM CST TUE JAN 29 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...
A RED FLAG WARNING AND A WIND ADVISORY ARE IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF
NORTH TEXAS TODAY.

A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE EAST OF A PARIS TO HEARNE LINE THIS
MORNING. HOWEVER...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...
A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTH TEXAS WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON. HIGH FIRE DANGER IS POSSIBLE WEST OF I-35 ON THURSDAY.

ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT SOUTHEAST
OF AN EMORY TO KILLEEN LINE. NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED
AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 strong wind, 5 high wind, 5 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Collin

When: January 29, 7:00 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Collin forecast zone
Measured: 30 kt (35 mph) measured sustained
Property damage: $65,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.188, -96.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Signs were blown down in McKinney, trees were blown over and snapped in Melissa, and an RV was blown over in Anna. Numerous other lighweight objects such as lawn furniture, trampolines, and metal roofs were blown around. One heavy brick column was broken at the entrance to a subdivision.

Strong Wind, Dallas

When: January 29, 8:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 32.767, -96.778 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A trailer overturned near Lake Ray Roberts Dam due to strong winds. The winds also caused arcing power lines which sparked several small fires.

Strong Wind, Palo Pinto

When: January 29, 10:00 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto forecast zone
Measured: 32 kt (37 mph) measured sustained
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 32.753, -98.313 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A large plate glass window at a bank broke due to strong winds. Power outages occurred as power lines were tossed by the wind. A few small structures were damaged.

Strong Wind, Parker

When: January 29, 10:00 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Parker forecast zone
Measured: 30 kt (35 mph) estimated sustained
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 32.778, -97.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous trees were downed across the county.

Strong Wind, Anderson

When: January 29, 10:00 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Anderson forecast zone
Measured: 46 kt (53 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 31.813, -95.653 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds blew several trees down, damaging houses and outbuildings. Power outages were reported across the county.

Strong Wind, Dallas

When: January 29, 10:00 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Measured: 41 kt (47 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 32.767, -96.778 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A large above-ground pool was lifted and thrown against a mobile home. Windows were broken out at the home and the pool was twisted and destroyed.

Strong Wind, Navarro

When: January 29, 10:00 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Navarro forecast zone
Measured: 42 kt (48 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 32.047, -96.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several trees and large tree limbs were blown down.

Strong Wind, Van Zandt

When: January 29, 10:00 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Van Zandt forecast zone
Measured: 30 kt (35 mph) estimated sustained
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 32.564, -95.836 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds blew signs, branches, and metal roofs down across the county. The ceiling of the Grand Saline Elementary School was damaged when the wind entered an open door and lifted it up. The ceiling then collapsed.

High Wind, Grayson

When: January 29, 10:30 AM CST to 11:30 AM CST
Where: Grayson forecast zone
Measured: 35 kt (40 mph) measured sustained
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.627, -96.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Power lines and trees were blown down across the county, causing numerous power outages. A building in the Bonham town square was damaged when the single-story addition was torn off the back of it.

High Wind, Tarrant

When: January 29, 10:30 AM CST to 11:30 AM CST
Where: Tarrant forecast zone
Measured: 36 kt (41 mph) measured sustained
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Alliance Airport reported a sustained wind of 41 MPH.

High Wind, Collin

When: January 29, 10:50 AM CST
Where: Collin forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 33.188, -96.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The McKinney ASOS recorded a peak wind gust of 59 miles an hour at 10:50 AM CST.

Wildfire, Parker

When: January 29, 11:00 AM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Parker forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 32.778, -97.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Fires fueled by sustained winds around 40 MPH fanned a fire near Reno. A business housed in a mobile home sustained about $100,000 worth of damage. A pickup truck, hundreds of tires, and various other equipment were destroyed. A total of 18 structures were lost with nearly 3,500 acres burned. Hundreds of acres of hay were also lost.

Wildfire, Grayson

When: January 29, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Grayson forecast zone
Property damage: $400,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.627, -96.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds blew tree limbs onto electrical lines, which then ignited fires near Sherman. A home and other buildings were destroyed and another home damaged.

Wildfire, Hamilton

When: January 29, 11:00 AM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Hamilton forecast zone
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 31.705, -98.111 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A large wildfire fanned by 40 MPH winds burned more than 1,000 acres north of Hico near Purvis. No structures were known to have been lost.

Wildfire, Wise

When: January 29, 11:00 AM CST to January 30, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Wise forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.216, -97.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous fires in the county burned 700 acres and destroyed fourteen structures. Most of the buildings were homes near Paradise. The fires were fanned by strong winds around 40 MPH. Damage was estimated around one million dollars.

High Wind, Lamar

When: January 29, 11:30 AM CST to 12:30 PM CST
Where: Lamar forecast zone
Measured: 36 kt (41 mph) measured sustained
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.667, -95.571 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Signs were blown down and some light property damage occurred as a strong cold front blew through the area. Wind damage to roofs, barns, and outbuildings was common. The Rogers-Wade building in downtown Paris lost its roof and suffered structural damage. Power outages were reported in Blossom. The Paris observation reported 41.4 MPH sustained early in the afternoon.

Strong Wind, Hopkins

When: January 29, 11:40 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Hopkins forecast zone
Measured: 33 kt (38 mph) measured sustained
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.150, -95.564 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds downed power lines and trees across the county sparking several grass fires.

Wildfire, Tarrant

When: January 29, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Tarrant forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Fires in southwestern Tarrant County burned several hundred acres.

Strong Wind, Hunt

When: January 29, 12:30 PM CST to 1:30 PM CST
Where: Hunt forecast zone
Measured: 32 kt (37 mph) measured sustained
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.124, -96.085 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous trees were blown down and a truck was blown over in Greenville. Numerous power outages were also reported.

High Wind, Dallas

When: January 29, 12:30 PM CST to 1:30 PM CST
Where: Dallas forecast zone
Measured: 35 kt (40 mph) measured sustained
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 32.767, -96.778 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A sustained wind speed of 40 MPH was recorded in Mesquite.

What these are

Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Wildfire: A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, January 2008

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: 75379, 75435, 75428, 75430, 75432, 75433, 75434, 75436, 75380, 84182, 75378, 75382, 75400, 75429, 75431, 84181, 75427, 79110, 75426, 84180.