Wildfire and Dust Storm in Texas, February 27 to 28, 2011

Name: Wildfire and Dust Storm in Texas, February 27 to 28, 2011
Start: 2011-02-27T11:50
End: 2011-02-28T12:00
Location: Texas

February 27 to 28, 2011 · NWS LUB · 21 events in 17 counties and zones

S. on the 27th caused high winds, blowing dust, and an outbreak of destructive grassland wildfires that affected portions of three states.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 21 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: 2
Property damage: $3.5 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 21

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 LUB wrote it up.

The passage of an intense upper air storm system over the Southern Plains of the U.S. on the 27th caused high winds, blowing dust, and an outbreak of destructive grassland wildfires that affected portions of three states.

Locally on the South Plains of west Texas, intense southwest to westerly winds intensified rapidly in the hours around midday. These winds resulted in widespread blowing dust across region. Visibility at Lubbock's Preston Smith International Airport dropped to less than one-quarter mile in the dust storm. Similar dust storm conditions undoubtedly occurred at many South Plains locales, but went unreported. Damage brought on by the winds and resultant wildland fires were of much greater concern.

Shortly after 12:00 CST, winds caused power lines to arc in the 5600 block of 45th Street in Lubbock (Lubbock County). An urban-wildland fire quickly sparked and ran through yards and severely damaged six residences. Three homes, two sheds, two boats, and a vehicle were destroyed. A dog was killed, but no human casualties were reported. Lubbock fire fighters additionally fought a fire near the 400 block of East 50th Street around 15:00 CST. That fire, also started by wind-blown power lines, severely damaged 23 vehicles in an automotive repair lot.

Winds downed three power poles and lines into native grasslands southwest of Levelland (Hockley County) around 13:45 CST. The resultant wildfire charred 5,000 acres and destroyed two homes and damaged a third. Four vehicles and a fire engine were lost in the blaze.

Between 14:15 CST and 15:15 CST, at least two fires ignited in southern and western Motley County. The Matador Complex fires grew to consume more than 41,000 acres. U.S. Highway 62/70 was closed as the west-Matador fire, which started at a road-side park twelve miles west of Matador, rapidly spread eastward toward the town. An army of first responders invaded Matador to evacuate its residents toward a defensible area at the Motley County High School gymnasium. One fire fighter was treated for minor burns. At least two homes were severely damaged or destroyed on the southern extent of the city, and many outbuildings were burned. The community of Roaring Springs was additionally threatened without incident.

Around 15:45 CST, a wind-driven fire ignited at an airport just east of Post (Garza County). The fire quickly developed into a massive wildland fire that consumed 9,500 acres before it was contained around 23:00 CST. The fire destroyed a 20 foot by 30 foot telecommunications building which was valued at approximately $2 million. A fire engine was partially burned.

Wind-driven wildfires also ignited near Spur and Afton (Dickens County) and near Aspermont (Stonewall County). These fires collectively accounted for between 5,000 acres and 10,000 acres burned and took a number of outbuildings. Additional and less significant fire starts were observed on the north rim of Tule Canyon near Lake MacKenzie in Briscoe County, in Bailey County, Childress County, and Hale County. In all, at least 11 wind-driven grassland wildfires impacted the extreme Southern Panhandle and the South Plains.

The high winds experienced in the Lubbock (Lubbock County) area during the afternoon hours caused extensive roof damage to an apartment complex near 1930 Baylor Street. One person was injured when a 30 foot by 30 foot section of the roof was blown off of the structure. Debris, which had previously covered three apartment units, struck several cars when it landed in an adjacent parking lot. A vehicle was additionally struck by airborne roofing material that peeled off of another Lubbock business elsewhere in the city.

A list of severe wind gusts measured by the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet, KVII-TV Schoolnet, and Automated Surface Observing Systems follows: |68 mph at Amherst (Lamb County), 65 mph at Lazbuddie (Parmer County), 63 mph at Hart (Castro County), 63 mph at Tulia (Swisher County), 61 mph at MacKenzie Reservoir (Briscoe County), 60 mph at Silverton (Briscoe County), 59 mph at Friona (Parmer County), 59 mph at Lubbock's Preston Smith International Airport (Lubbock County), 59 mph at Morton (Cochran County), 59 mph at Plainview (Hale County), 59 mph at Turkey (Hall County), 58 mph at Denver City (Yoakum County), and 58 mph at Graham (Garza County).

The winds and wildfires that impacted the South Plains region of west Texas on the 27th clearly had a significant public impact. Although two persons were injured, no fatalities were reported. Total economic losses were estimated near $3.5 million.

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 Lubbock, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 27, 11:29 AM CST, 21 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 27, 11:29 AM CST, 21 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
1129 AM CST SUN FEB 27 2011

.UPDATE...
UL LOW AT 17Z WAS LOCATED ACROSS MUCH OF AZ. THIS LOW WILL
CONTINUE TO PUSH EWARD AND THEN NEWARD INTO THE AREA BRING STRONG
WINDS INTO THE AREA. IN FACT...WINDS HAVE BEGUN TO INCREASE THIS
AFTERNOON FROM WEST TO EAST...WITH MOST OF THE WRN MOST ZONES AOA
20-25KT AT 17Z. THOUGH OTHER LOCATIONS REMAIN BELOW 20 KT THE
INCREASE HAS BEEN RELATIVE ABRUPT ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA TO THE
WEST. STRONGEST WIND SPEEDS ACROSS THE AREA LOOK TO REMAIN ON THE
CAPROCK...WITH SLIGHTLY LESS OFF. THEREFORE...WILL CONTINUE
PERVIOUS WARNING/ADVISORY LOCATIONS. BLOWING DUST ALSO...LOOKS TO
HAVE THE GREATEST POTENTIAL ON THE CAPROCK AND GIVEN CURRENT
TRENDS SEE NO REASON TO UPGRADE...UNLESS WIND SPEED RAMP UP MORE
THAN CURRENTLY THINKING. THEREFORE...HAVE UPDATED GRIDS TO BETTER
MATCH CURRENT TRENDS.

&&

.AVIATION...
PRIMARY AVIATION CONCERNS CONTINUE TO BE HIGH WINDS AND BLOWING
DUST. WINDS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO INCREASE FROM WEST TO EAST
ACROSS THE AREA...WITH SOME VISUAL EVIDENCE OF BLOWING DUST NEAR
THE TX/NM STATE LINE. ALTHOUGH...THE STRONGEST WINDS AND MUCH OF
THE BLOWING DUST WILL REMAIN ON THE CAPROCK KCDS SHOULD SEE WINDS
AOA 30KT AND SOME REDUCED VIS DUE TO BLOWING DUST. KLBB/S VIS IS
EXPECTED TO DROP TO AROUND 1SM...THOUGH PERIODS OF LESS CAN/T BE
RULED OUT ATTM. THESE CONDITIONS WILL EXIST UNTIL A WEAK COLD
FRONT PUSHES INTO THE AREA.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 523 AM CST SUN FEB 27 2011/

AVIATION...
MVFR CLOUDS WERE MOVING ACROSS KLBB AND POSSIBLY NEARKING KCDS
THIS MORNING. THUS...FORECAST MODELS HINT AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF
FOG AT BOTH TERMINALS AOA 12Z. HAVE THEREFORE ADDED AN MVFR
CRITERIA TEMPO GROUP. BY MID- MORNING...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL
GET SCOURED EAST AS A STRONG SYSTEM APPROACHES THE SOUTH PLAINS
FROM WEST...AND CREATE WINDY AND GUSTY WEST TO SOUTHWESTERLY
SURFACE WINDS BY THIS AFTERNOON. BLOWING DUST WILL CREATE
VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS OF 1SM OR LESS...PARTICULARLY AT KLBB.
WIND SPEEDS WILL DECLINE A BIT BY EARLY MONDAY MORNING.
OTHERWISE...VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 349 AM CST SUN FEB 27 2011/

SHORT TERM...
MAIN CONCERN FOR THE SHORT TERM FORECAST REVOLVES AROUND THE
ANTICIPATED WIND EVENT AND CONSEQUENTLY FIRE WEATHER EVENT
COMMENCING LATER THIS AFTERNOON.

THE STRONG UA LOW THAT WILL INDUCE STRONG WINDS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN
PLAINS...WAS BEGINNING TO MAKE AN EASTWARD JOG ACROSS SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA/WESTERN ARIZONA PER 09Z WATER VAPOR IMAGERY. LOOKING
CLOSER TO HOME AT THE SFC...A REMNANT FRONTAL BOUNDARY THAT HAS BEEN
LINGERING NEAR/ACROSS THE SOUTH PLAINS FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS...WAS
LOCATED ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS PANHANDLE...AS WAS EVIDENT BY
DEWPOINTS IN THE 30S. SE ZONES HAD DEWPOINTS IN THE LOWER 50S...BUT
WAS LIKELY DUE TO THE UPSLOPE WIND COMPONENT AND LLJ...WHERE CENTRAL
AND WESTERN ZONES HAD DEWPOINTS RANGING FROM THE SINGLE DIGITS TO
THE LOWER 20S. FORECAST SOLUTIONS HINT AT THE RETURN OF LOW LEVEL
MOISTURE/LOW CLOUDS AND/OR FOG LATER THIS MORNING PARTICULARLY ACROSS
SE ZONES...COINCIDING WITH THE LLJ. THIS IS NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF
POSSIBILITIES AS LOW CLOUDS AND FOG ACROSS THE BIG COUNTRY WERE
SLOWLY TRANSLATING NORTH.

BY MID-MORNING THE DRYLINE WILL SURGE EASTWARD WHICH WILL AID TO PUSH
BEST LOW LEVEL MOISTURE EAST OF THE CWA...WHILE CONCURRENTLY THE UA
LOW BEGINS TO OPEN UP ACROSS WESTERN NEW MEXICO. BY 18Z-21Z...MODEL
SOUNDINGS EXHIBITED THE POTENTIAL TO MIX WINDS AOA 600 MB DOWN TO
THE SFC. THUS FORECAST SOLUTIONS DISPLAYED THE 850 MB...700 MB AND 500
MB JETS BEGINNING TO TRAVERSE THE WESTERN SOUTH PLAINS BY 18Z...WITH
PROGGED SPEEDS OF 35 KTS...55 KTS AND 90 KTS RESPECTIVELY. THE
AFOREMENTIONED JETS IS PROGGED TO INCREASE AND SHIFT EASTWARD WITH
TIME...WHERE BY 21Z MOS GUIDANCE DISPLAYED 38 KTS AT KLBB. HENCE IT
APPEARS THAT EASTERN SOUTH PLAINS WILL EXPERIENCE HIGHEST WIND
SPEEDS BETWEEN 00Z-03Z AS SHOWN PER KCDS MOS GUIDANCE SPEEDS OF 34
KTS AT 00Z. THUS WILL SLIGHTLY ADJUST THE CURRENT HIGH WIND WARNING
TO INCLUDE TWO COUNTIES OFF THE CAPROCK /CROSBY AND GARZA/ DUE TO
THE ORIENTATION OF THE UA JETS...BUT OVERALL A SIGNIFICANT PORTION
OF THE HIGH WIND WARNING IS ON THE CAPROCK. ELSEWHERE...A WIND
ADVISORY APPEARS VALID ATTM.  FURTHERMORE LACK OF SIGNIFICANT
RAINFALL ACROSS MOST OF THE CWA IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS WILL ALSO
INDUCE THE STRONG POSSIBILITY OF BLOWING DUST...COINCIDING WITH THE
HIGH WIND WARNING AREA. WILL THEREFORE ADJUST THE BLOWING DUST
ADVISORY TO INCLUDE THE AFOREMENTIONED AREA AS VISIBILITIES WILL HAVE
THE CAPABILITY OF BECOMING RESTRICTED TO 1SM /POSSIBLY LESS/ AT
TIMES.

STRONG DOWNSLOPING WINDS...VERY DRY FUELS AND DRY AIR ALREADY IN
PLACE ACROSS MOST OF THE CWA SUPPORTS THE PROSPECT FOR EXTREMELY
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE SOUTH PLAINS. ONLY
MITIGATING FACTOR INVOLVES THE UA DISTURBANCE ASSOCIATED PACIFIC
FRONT...THAT IS PROGGED TO MOVE ACROSS THE CWA FROM WEST TO EAST
LATE AFTERNOON CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE EASTWARD PROPAGATING DRYLINE.
AS A RESULT DAYTIME TEMPS WILL RANGE FROM THE LOWER TO MID 60S WEST
TO THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S EAST. FORECAST SOLUTIONS SHOW THE SAID
FRONT DISCOURAGING EXTREMELY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES...WITH
PROGGED VALUES REMAINING AOA 10 PERCENT THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON.
CONFIDENCE FOR FIRE WEATHER POTENTIAL IS HIGHEST ACROSS THE CENTRAL
AND EASTERN ZONES WHERE TEMPS ARE WARMEST AND RELATIVE HUMIDITIES
WILL BE LOWEST FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME...VERSUS THE COOLER
WESTERN ZONES WHERE RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES MAY RECOVER FASTEST.
HOWEVER...CAN NOT IGNORE SUCH STRONG ANTICIPATED WIND SPEEDS AND
THUS WILL MAINTAIN A REDFLAG WARNING FOR THE ENTIRE CWA. FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION...PLEASE REFER TO THE FIRE WEATHER DISCUSSION BELOW.
LATE TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY MONDAY MORNING...THE UA DISTURBANCE WILL
BE MOVING ACROSS THE PANHANDLES/CENTRAL PLAINS AND THE TIGHTENED
PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL BEGIN TO RELAX. A SECONDARY FRONTAL
PUSH/NORTHWESTERLY WIND SHIFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISTURBANCE WILL
MOVE ACROSS THE PANHANDLES AND MOST OF THE CWA...BUT ONLY MID LEVEL
CLOUDS NOT PRECIPITATION WILL ACCOMPANY THE BOUNDARY.

LONG TERM...
QUIET WEATHER EXPECTED THROUGH THE LONG TERM WITH ZONAL FLOW ALOFT
PREVAILING THROUGH MOST OF THE PERIOD. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR TEMPS
TO WARM FROM POST-FRONTAL 60S ON MONDAY INTO THE 70S FOR THE
MIDDLE PART OF THE WEEK. BREEZY AFTERNOONS A COUPLE OF THOSE COULD
LEAD TO FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS ONCE AGAIN. MODEL SUITE HAVING SOME
DIFFICULTY WITH A SHORT WAVE TROUGH PROGGED ACROSS THE AREA FRIDAY
OR SATURDAY WITH THE ECMWF REVERTING BACK TO DEVELOPING A CLOSED
LOW OVER WEST TEXAS WHILE THE OTHER MODELS KEEP A PROGRESSIVE LOW
AMPLITUDE WAVE. WILL CONTINUE TO FAVOR THE MAJORITY OF THE MODELS
AND MAINTAIN A DRY FCST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WITH COLD FRONT MOVING
INTO THE AREA FRIDAY...STALLING...THEN MOVING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT
AS UPPER SUPPORT MOVES QUICKLY EWD.

FIRE WEATHER...
EXTREMELY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL ENSUE THIS AFTERNOON
AS A POTENT UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM APPROACHES THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. WEST
TO SOUTHWESTERLY 20-FOOT WINDS WILL INCREASE INTO THE 25 TO 35 MPH
RANGE BY THIS AFTERNOON. THESE WINDY CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH THE
FILTERING OF VERY DRY AIR...ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES /10 TO 20
DEGREES/ AND RELATIVE HUMIDITIES FALLING TO NEAR 10 PERCENT WILL
POSE A THREAT FOR EXTREME FIRE WEATHER BEHAVIOR FOR A LONG DURATION
OF TIME. ONLY MITIGATING FACTOR WILL BE THE UPPER LEVEL SYSTEMS
ASSOCIATED PACIFIC FRONT...WHICH WILL COOL TEMPS ACROSS THE WESTERN
SOUTH PLAINS THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON...AND THUS ALLOW A SLIGHT
RECOVERY OF RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES. HOWEVER...WITH THE ANTICIPATED
WIND SPEEDS...WILL CONTINUE THE REDFLAG WARNING FOR THE ENTIRE SOUTH
PLAINS...KEEPING IN MIND THAT CENTRAL AND EASTERN LOCALES /WHERE
TEMPS WILL BE IN THE 70S AND 80S/ WILL POSE A HIGH THREAT FOR FIRE
WEATHER DUE TO LOWER PROLONGED RELATIVE HUMIDITIES. A WIND SHIFT TO
THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR LATE TONIGHT/EARLY MONDAY MORNING
WHICH COULD PROVE PROBLEMATIC FOR ONGOING FIRES...HOWEVER WIND
SPEEDS ARE EXPECTED TO DECLINE TO AOA 15 TO 20 MPH ATTM.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
FRIONA        65  27  61  28  73 /   0   0   0   0   0
TULIA         70  28  60  29  72 /   0   0   0   0   0
PLAINVIEW     69  30  61  29  72 /   0   0   0   0   0
LEVELLAND     69  34  64  32  77 /   0   0   0   0   0
LUBBOCK       72  33  65  32  76 /   0   0   0   0   0
DENVER CITY   69  34  65  32  78 /   0   0   0   0   0
BROWNFIELD    71  35  64  32  77 /   0   0   0   0   0
CHILDRESS     78  33  60  33  73 /   0   0   0   0   0
SPUR          76  36  63  33  74 /   0   0   0   0   0
ASPERMONT     80  36  62  35  76 /   0   0   0   0   0

&&

.LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: TXZ021>044.

WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: TXZ025-026-031-032-037-038-043-044.

BLOWING DUST ADVISORY UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES: TXZ021>024-027>030-033>036-039>042.

HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 9 PM CST THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: TXZ021>024-027>030-033>036-039>042.

&&

40

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 27, 5:17 AM CST, 6 hours 33 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
517 AM CST SUN FEB 27 2011

TXZ021>044-281130-
PARMER-CASTRO-SWISHER-BRISCOE-HALL-CHILDRESS-BAILEY-LAMB-HALE-
FLOYD-MOTLEY-COTTLE-COCHRAN-HOCKLEY-LUBBOCK-CROSBY-DICKENS-KING-
YOAKUM-TERRY-LYNN-GARZA-KENT-STONEWALL-
517 AM CST SUN FEB 27 2011

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE EXTREME SOUTHERN TEXAS
PANHANDLE...SOUTH PLAINS AND ROLLING PLAINS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

FIRE WEATHER

STRONG WINDS...WARM TEMPERATURES AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY
WILL CREATE VERY CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT WILL BE
CONDUCIVE TO DAMAGING AND LIFE THREATENING WILD LAND FIRES. AS A
RESULT A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF THE SOUTH
PLAINS AREA.

NON PRECIPITATION

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

AND DANGEROUS HIGH WIND EVENT WITH VERY STRONG WINDS OF 30 TO 45
MPH WITH GUSTS TO 65 MPH IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BY THIS AFTERNOON
AND PERSIST INTO THE EVENING HOURS. THESE WINDS WILL ALSO CAUSE
WIDESPREAD BLOWING DUST...ESPECIALLY ON THE CAPROCK ESCARPMENT. A
HIGH WIND WARNING AND BLOWING DUST ADVISORY ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE
SOUTH PLAINS AND EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST PANHANDLE. A
WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE EXTREME SOUTHEAST PANHANDLE AND
THE ROLLING PLAINS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
LOCAL OFFICIALS AND EMERGENCY MANAGERS SHOULD PREPARE NOW FOR
IMPACTS FROM HIGH WIND AND WILDFIRE.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 high wind, 6 wildfire, 1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Parmer

When: February 27, 11:50 AM CST to 4:01 PM CST
Where: Parmer forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.530, -102.784 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dust Storm, Lubbock

When: February 27, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Lubbock forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 33.610, -101.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wildfire, Lubbock

When: February 27, 12:10 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Lubbock forecast zone
Property damage: $570,000
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 33.610, -101.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Lubbock

When: February 27, 12:20 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Lubbock forecast zone
Measured: 36 kt (41 mph) measured sustained
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.610, -101.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Yoakum

When: February 27, 12:20 PM CST to 6:35 PM CST
Where: Yoakum forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.173, -102.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Castro

When: February 27, 12:25 PM CST to 4:45 PM CST
Where: Castro forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.530, -102.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hale

When: February 27, 12:35 PM CST to 5:40 PM CST
Where: Hale forecast zone
Measured: 38 kt (44 mph) measured sustained
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.071, -101.827 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Lamb

When: February 27, 12:40 PM CST to 5:25 PM CST
Where: Lamb forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.069, -102.352 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Bailey

When: February 27, 12:55 PM CST to 4:20 PM CST
Where: Bailey forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.069, -102.830 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hockley

When: February 27, 1:00 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
Where: Hockley forecast zone
Measured: 39 kt (45 mph) measured sustained
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.608, -102.343 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Cochran

When: February 27, 1:05 PM CST to 4:45 PM CST
Where: Cochran forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.604, -102.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Swisher

When: February 27, 1:20 PM CST to 5:20 PM CST
Where: Swisher forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.530, -101.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wildfire, Hockley

When: February 27, 1:45 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Hockley forecast zone
Property damage: $450,000
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 33.608, -102.343 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hall

When: February 27, 1:55 PM CST to 5:50 PM CST
Where: Hall forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.531, -100.681 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wildfire, Motley

When: February 27, 2:15 PM CST to February 28, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Motley forecast zone
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 34.074, -100.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Briscoe

When: February 27, 2:25 PM CST to 5:55 PM CST
Where: Briscoe forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.530, -101.209 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Floyd

When: February 27, 3:35 PM CST to 6:05 PM CST
Where: Floyd forecast zone
Measured: 36 kt (41 mph) measured sustained
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.072, -101.303 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wildfire, Garza

When: February 27, 3:45 PM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Garza forecast zone
Property damage: $2.0 million
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 33.180, -101.298 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wildfire, Stonewall

When: February 27, 5:15 PM CST to 11:30 PM CST
Where: Stonewall forecast zone
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.179, -100.253 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Wildfire, Dickens

When: February 27, 6:30 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where: Dickens forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 33.617, -100.779 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Garza

When: February 27, 7:25 PM CST
Where: Garza forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.180, -101.298 (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.
Dust Storm: Blowing dust that reduced visibility to a quarter mile or less.
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 2011 Every state in 2011 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, February 2011

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: 277957, 278137, 278132, 277969, 277970, 277958, 277965, 277964, 277963, 277968, 277967, 277959, 278131, 277962, 278134, 277960, 277966, 278133, 278135, 278136, 277971.