West Texas Sandstorms

Of all weather phenomena, sandstorms is the one I hate. It’s a sure sign spring is just around the corner when the regular sand storms start in west Texas. The majority of fields are bare, being in between harvest and planting season, and we are most often driest this time of year. Late winter/early spring fast moving storm systems often kick up the winds in to the 40+ mph range and today was no exception. So far at my location the highest gust we had was 52 mph, and the highest in the area was 55 mph.

A couple of wildfires have broken out, one between Midland and Lamesa, TX, and a huge wildfire has erupted near Muleshoe, TX in the southwest Texas Panhandle that is ongoing as I write this. In fact, Muleshoe Emergency Management has requested evacuation assistance in the area and a fire warning released.

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FIRE WARNING
TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY LUBBOCK TEXAS
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LUBBOCK TX
402 PM CST MON JAN 28 2008

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE
MULESHOE TEXAS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.

THE MULESHOE EMERGENCY MANAGER IS REQUESTING ASSISTANCE IN
EVACUATION OF BUILDINGS NEAR AND NORTH OF A GROWING WILD FIRE
LOCATED SOUTH OF MULESHOE...OVER NORTHEAST BAILEY COUNTY...NEAR
THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAYS 214 AND 746. THE FIRE APPEARS TO BE
SPREADING QUICKLY TO THE NORTHEAST AND HAS ALREADY GROWN QUITE
LARGE. CITIZENS IN THIS AREA ARE REQUESTED TO MOVE TO SAFE
LOCATIONS IMMEDIATELY.

Looks like another windy and sandy day tomorrow before a cool down and small shot at some snow. If you don’t like the weather in west Texas, just wait a minute!

Written by David on January 28th, 2008 with 5 comments.
Read more articles on Extreme Weather.