High Wind in Texas, February 14, 2023

Name: High Wind in Texas, February 14, 2023
Start: 2023-02-14T09:00
End: 2023-02-14T13:42
Location: Texas

February 14, 2023 · NWS LUB · 23 events in 23 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 23 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: $50,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 23

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.

A strong storm rapidly ejected into the central High Plains early on the 14th. This caused dry and intense sinking westerly flow around the south side of the system to sweep across the southern High Plains during the morning. Winds quickly increased in the morning, peaking between mid-morning and midday before gradually decreasing through the afternoon hours. Nearly all of West Texas was inflicted by wind gusts in excess of 50 mph. Peak wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph were common across the southern Texas Panhandle and adjacent northern and central South and Rolling Plains. The intense winds did cause areas of property damage, including rolling multiple semi-tractor trailers off Interstate-27 south of Tulia (Swisher County), where the cross-wind was maximized. In Lubbock County, several power poles were blown over. The wind also lofted copious amounts of dust, which further contributed to travel difficulties.

Maximum wind gusts from the Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet are listed below:

Maximum sustained winds from the Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet are listed below:

47 mph at New Home (Lynn County),|46 mph at Tahoka (Lynn County),|44 mph at O'Donnell (Lynn County), and|44 mph at Brownfield (Terry County).

Maximum wind gusts from area ASOS and AWOS stations are listed below:

69 mph at Lubbock International Airport (Lubbock County),|64 mph at Childress Municipal Airport (Childress County),|62 mph at Hale County Airport (Hale County), and|62 mph at Levelland Municipal Airport (Hockley County).

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 14, 5:31 AM CST, 3 hours 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 14, 5:31 AM CST, 3 hours 29 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lubbock TX
531 AM CST Tue Feb 14 2023

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(Today and tonight)
Issued at 302 AM CST Tue Feb 14 2023

Subsidence and drier air was already sweeping into the area early
this morning evident on water vapor imagery and surface
observations. A closed low was spinning across northern New Mexico
and by 12Z is expected to be over the northwestern Texas Panhandle.
Although we will be mostly clear today with sky cover, moisture at
mid and upper levels will try to wrap around this system as it pulls
away from the region this morning. Because of this, we may see
additional cloud cover later this morning. Today's wind setup is not
our classic gradient wind event but it will feel like it. The upper
low will be pulling away from the area today but will leave a strong
height gradient aloft. Jet streaks at 500 and 250mb will be moving
away from the region late this morning but low level wind fields
will remain very strong. Winds at 700mb will be ripping around 50-
60kt through at least the early afternoon. Having said that, we will
not be mixing to a height much higher than 800-750mb with the
passage of the pacific cold front this morning. However, by the time
we reach peak mixing, winds will still be in the 40-50kt range at
this level of the atmosphere. Chances of blowing dust are uncertain
today given the rainfall from yesterday evening. Essentially, the
rain could keep dust particles down or there may be some areas where
the rain would agitate the ground enough to bring finer dust
particles to the surface. The surface pressure gradient will begin
to relax this afternoon as the surface cyclone quickly moves away
from the region leading to light winds overnight.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Wednesday through Monday)
Issued at 302 AM CST Tue Feb 14 2023

Southwesterly flow aloft will intensify once again on Wednesday as
an upper level cutoff low pivots over the Four Corners region. The
upper low will transition into an open wave as it accelerates
northeastward on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in favorable
positioning of a 100+ kt 500mb jet streak over our area for another
windy day on Wednesday. Surface cyclogenesis over the central TX
Panhandle by midday will be less intense than seen today
resulting in slightly reduced wind magnitudes, but deeper daytime
mixing and and the presence of a broad region of 850mb flow
of 40-50 kt is expected to support sustained west-southwest winds
of 30 to 35 mph with gusts to 55 mph across much of the area. One
aspect which may temper winds somewhat will be the development of
midlevel cloud cover during the afternoon especially across the
SW Panhandle. This increased midlevel moisture combined with
enhanced upper lift associated with the 500mb jet streak is
expected to support scattered rain showers across the SW Panhandle
during the afternoon with a few snowflakes possibly mixing in
during the evening. Precipitation is still expected to be very
light given a dry sub-cloud layer with minimal QPF as a result.

Winds will weaken slightly and begin veering northwesterly by
Wednesday evening, though still remaining breezy as a cold front
pushes through the region. Sustained NNW winds of 15 to 25 mph
along with temperatures falling into the teens will result in
wind chill values in the single digits early Thursday morning for
most locations on the Caprock. Persistent strong cold advection
will result in a period unseasonably chilly temperatures 10 to 15
degrees below normal Wednesday night through Friday morning. A
warming trend will then begin on Friday as transient upper ridging
builds overhead, with guidance then pointing to an extended
period of quasi-zonal flow aloft persisting into early next week.
This would result in a period of relatively quiet weather, with
warm and dry conditions along with more modest winds this weekend
into early next week.

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 529 AM CST Tue Feb 14 2023

A strong cold front was currently moving through the area shifting
winds to the west and increasing in speed. Wind speeds will
continue to increase through the morning hours with sustained
winds peaking around 35kt or so. This may also cause some visby
restrictions due to BLDU. Winds will slowly diminish this
afternoon going light this evening at all TAF sites.

&&

.LUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Wind Warning until 6 PM CST this evening for TXZ021>038.

Wind Advisory until 6 PM CST this evening for TXZ039>044.

&&

SHORT TERM...01
LONG TERM....30
AVIATION...01

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 14, 3:17 AM CST, 5 hours 43 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Lubbock TX
317 AM CST Tue Feb 14 2023

TXZ021>044-150930-
Parmer-Castro-Swisher-Briscoe-Hall-Childress-Bailey-Lamb-Hale-Floyd-
Motley-Cottle-Cochran-Hockley-Lubbock-Crosby-Dickens-King-Yoakum-
Terry-Lynn-Garza-Kent-Stonewall-
317 AM CST Tue Feb 14 2023

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the South Plains, Rolling
Plains, and the far Southern Texas Panhandle.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Very strong west winds will impact the entire region today.
Sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph with gusts around 60 mph are expected,
with visibility reductions possible due to blowing dust. A High Wind
Warning is in effect from 8 AM until 6 PM today for all areas except
the far southern South Plains and far southern Rolling Plains where
a Wind Advisory is in place. Elevated fire weather conditions are
also expected across the entire region today.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Sustained south-southwest winds of 30 to 35 mph with gusts to 55 mph
are expected on the Caprock on Wednesday. Elevated fire weather
conditions are also possible area-wide on Wednesday.

A light rain-snow mix is possible across the far southwestern Texas
Panhandle on Wednesday afternoon and evening, which may result in
slick roadways by Wednesday night.

Wind chill values near 0 degrees are possible across the far
southwestern Texas Panhandle on Thursday morning.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

23 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Castro

When: February 14, 9:00 AM CST to 12:16 PM CST
Where: Castro forecast zone
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.530, -102.262 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Motley

When: February 14, 9:16 AM CST to 1:04 PM CST
Where: Motley forecast zone
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.074, -100.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Swisher

When: February 14, 9:19 AM CST to 12:08 PM CST
Where: Swisher forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $40,000
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.530, -101.735 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hall

When: February 14, 9:32 AM CST to 12:48 PM CST
Where: Hall forecast zone
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.531, -100.681 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hockley

When: February 14, 9:37 AM CST to 11:57 AM CST
Where: Hockley forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.608, -102.343 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Lynn

When: February 14, 9:42 AM CST to 1:42 PM CST
Where: Lynn forecast zone
Measured: 41 kt (47 mph) measured sustained
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.177, -101.816 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Terry

When: February 14, 9:44 AM CST to 10:44 AM CST
Where: Terry forecast zone
Measured: 38 kt (44 mph) measured sustained
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.174, -102.335 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Stonewall

When: February 14, 9:46 AM CST
Where: Stonewall forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.179, -100.253 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Lamb

When: February 14, 9:47 AM CST to 12:36 PM CST
Where: Lamb forecast zone
Measured: 62 kt (71 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.069, -102.352 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Lubbock

When: February 14, 9:47 AM CST to 12:46 PM CST
Where: Lubbock forecast zone
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.610, -101.820 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Bailey

When: February 14, 9:50 AM CST to 12:58 PM CST
Where: Bailey forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.069, -102.830 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Briscoe

When: February 14, 9:52 AM CST to 12:30 PM CST
Where: Briscoe forecast zone
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.530, -101.209 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Dickens

When: February 14, 9:59 AM CST to 12:28 PM CST
Where: Dickens forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.617, -100.779 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hale

When: February 14, 10:05 AM CST to 1:10 PM CST
Where: Hale forecast zone
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.071, -101.827 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Garza

When: February 14, 10:10 AM CST to 12:29 PM CST
Where: Garza forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.180, -101.298 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Floyd

When: February 14, 10:13 AM CST to 12:58 PM CST
Where: Floyd forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.072, -101.303 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Parmer

When: February 14, 10:13 AM CST to 11:19 AM CST
Where: Parmer forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.530, -102.784 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Crosby

When: February 14, 10:25 AM CST to 12:21 PM CST
Where: Crosby forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.615, -101.300 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Cochran

When: February 14, 10:47 AM CST to 11:41 AM CST
Where: Cochran forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.604, -102.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Yoakum

When: February 14, 10:52 AM CST to 11:42 AM CST
Where: Yoakum forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.173, -102.828 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Childress

When: February 14, 11:02 AM CST to 12:55 PM CST
Where: Childress forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.529, -100.208 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Cottle

When: February 14, 11:10 AM CST to 12:33 PM CST
Where: Cottle forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 34.078, -100.279 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, King

When: February 14, 11:19 AM CST to 12:33 PM CST
Where: King forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 33.617, -100.256 (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

Every storm in Texas in 2023 Every state in 2023 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, February 2023

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: 1070420, 1070419, 1070422, 1070418, 1070461, 1070473, 1070472, 1070466, 1070416, 1070421, 1070430, 1070417, 1070471, 1070426, 1070427, 1070424, 1070464, 1070465, 1070469, 1070468, 1070462, 1070467, 1070470.