A strong low pressure system over the Central and Southern Plains resulted in strong winds and dust storm conditions across much of west central Texas during the afternoon of March 4th. The winds gusted over 60 mph and localized visibilities were reduced to less than 1/4 of a mile in blowing dust.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS SJT wrote it up.
A strong low pressure system over the Central and Southern Plains resulted in strong winds and dust storm conditions across much of west central Texas during the afternoon of March 4th. The winds gusted over 60 mph and localized visibilities were reduced to less than 1/4 of a mile in blowing dust.
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 San Angelo, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 4, 5:59 AM CST, 4 hours 24 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service San Angelo TX 559 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... - Strong to severe storms are likely through the early morning with damaging winds and a few tornadoes possible. - Critical to Extreme fire weather conditions are expected across most of west central Texas today. - Strong west winds are expected today, along with blowing dust which could result in low visibilities. && .SHORT TERM... (Today and tonight) Issued at 213 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025 Strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to be out of the area by no later than 8 AM this morning. Behind these storms, very strong west to northwest winds are still expected to move into the area. Winds of 40 to 50 knots out of the west at 850mb will be mixed to the surface as subsidence and abundant sunshine on the west side of the upper level trough axis work into the area. Sustained west/northwest winds of 35 to 45 mph, along with gusts approaching 60 mph will be possible from around 8 AM this morning for western areas through mid to late afternoon. These winds will impact the entire area, as well as the rest of west Texas, so we are likely to see blowing dust in the region as well. Winds are expected to diminish across southern areas before 6 PM, but could linger an hour or so longer generally east of a Sweetwater to Brownwood line. Temperatures will be cooler, with highs in the mid 60s to lower 70s. Winds will eventually diminish to less than 10 mph across the entire area. These light winds combined with clearing skies will allow lows Tuesday night to drop into the upper 30s to lower 40s. && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday through Monday) Issued at 213 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025 Following the cold frontal passage of this current system, temperatures will remain on the cool side for Wednesday, with highs mainly in the 60s. Upper level ridging will follow from Thursday into Friday, keeping our weather quiet and dry, and allow temperatures to warm back up into the 70s for Thursday, and then into the 70s to mid 80s for Friday. The next upper level system will move into New Mexico by Friday night. Models are in fairly good agreement with the path of the upper system, but there is disagreement with the speed of the low. In either case there remains a relatively low chance (20% to 30%) for precipitation, mainly north of a Sweetwater to Brownwood line. Another cold front will follow this low as it moves away from the area, resulting in much cooler temperatures for highs Saturday, ranging from the mid 50s north to the mid 60s south. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 559 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025 The thunderstorms have moved east out of the area, as of 545 AM. Skies have cleared at our TAF sites, and winds were from the southwest to west. West winds have started to become gusty at KSJT. Strong winds from the west will develop between 12Z and 15Z, and will continue through the afternoon. Gusts of 40-45 knots are likely, and may approach 50 knots at times. With this setup, areas of blowing dust will reduce visibilities to 3-6 miles, and localized reductions to 1 mile are possible. Winds will become northwest later this afternoon and evening. Wind speeds will decrease later this afternoon and early evening, but remain gusty. For the overnight hours, northwest winds will diminish to 4-7 knots. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 213 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025 ...Critical to Extreme Fire Weather Conditions Today... Strong west to northwest winds will align from the surface up through the mid levels with winds speeds of 40 to 50 knots noted at 850mb. As subsidence increases on the west side of the upper level trough, and combines with ample sunshine which will help increase mixing, these strong winds will be pushed downward toward the surface. West to northwest winds of 35 to 45 mph, and gusts approaching 60 mph will begin between 8 AM and 9 AM in our western counties, quickly spreading to the rest of the forecast area by late morning. These winds will combine with RH values dropping into the 15% to 25% range, causing the extreme fire weather conditions. The lower RH values will occur south of a Sterling City to San Saba line, including the I-10 corridor. Although we will have rain across much of the area this morning, the extreme nature of the winds will be able to quickly dry any moisture off of any vegetation. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Abilene 68 40 63 44 / 10 0 0 0 San Angelo 73 40 65 44 / 0 0 0 0 Junction 73 40 69 42 / 0 0 0 0 Brownwood 71 40 64 39 / 0 0 0 0 Sweetwater 70 39 64 45 / 10 0 0 0 Ozona 70 41 67 45 / 0 0 0 0 Brady 72 42 65 43 / 0 0 0 0 && .SJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning until 7 PM CST this evening for Brown-Callahan- Coke-Coleman-Concho-Crockett-Fisher-Haskell-Irion-Jones-Kimble- Mason-McCulloch-Menard-Nolan-Runnels-San Saba-Schleicher- Shackelford-Sterling-Sutton-Taylor-Throckmorton-Tom Green. Red Flag Warning from 9 AM this morning to 7 PM CST this evening for Brown-Callahan-Coke-Coleman-Concho-Crockett-Fisher-Irion- Jones-Kimble-Mason-McCulloch-Menard-Nolan-Runnels-San Saba- Schleicher-Sterling-Sutton-Taylor-Tom Green. && SHORT TERM...20 LONG TERM....20 AVIATION...19
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Angelo TX
424 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0242 AM Tstm Wnd Gst 4 SE Abilene 32.42N 99.68W
03/04/2025 M62 MPH Taylor TX ASOS
&&
CRDPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Angelo TX
547 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0246 AM Tstm Wnd Dmg 2 SSW Wall 31.35N 100.31W
03/04/2025 Tom Green TX Law Enforcement
The Tom Green County Sherriff reported that
power lines were down along Wood Road,
between Susan Peak Road and US Highway 87.
&&
CRDPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Angelo TX
821 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0411 AM Hail Rochelle 31.22N 99.21W
03/04/2025 M1.00 Inch McCulloch TX Public
Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
&&
CRDPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Angelo TX
1015 AM CST Tue Mar 4 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0952 AM Non-Tstm Wnd Gst 4 W Rotan 32.85N 100.54W
03/04/2025 M62 MPH Fisher TX Mesonet
&&
CRDThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 high wind, 1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.
A Mesonet site reported a wind gust of 61 mph 11 miles southwest of Sweetwater.
A Mesonet site reported a wind gust of 64 mph 5 miles west of Rotan.
A Mesonet site reported a wind gust of 58 mph 2 miles east of Wall.
A Mesonet site reported a wind gust of 58 mph at Fort Chadbourne.
A Mesonet site reported a wind gust of 62 mph 3 miles west-northwest of Doole.
A trained spotter reported visibilities less than 1/4 of a mile due to dust storm conditions.
A Mesonet station reported a wind gust of 64 mph 1 mile northwest of Haskell.
A Mesonet site reported a wind gust of 60 mph 1 mile southwest of Throckmorton.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, March 2025
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: 1244354, 1244347, 1244366, 1244341, 1244337, 1244275, 1244346, 1244361.