Wind and Dust for West Texas (14 November 2020)

Wind and Dust for West Texas 14 November 2020

A dusty hue on the skyline in Slaton around noon on Saturday (14 November 2020). The image is courtesy of KAMC.

A potent upper level storm system emerging over the central High Plains provided wind and blowing dust for West Texas this mid-November Saturday. The track of the system carried strong and dry westerly winds across northwest Texas through the day.


Peak wind gusts recorded by the West Texas Mesonet (WTM) on 14 November 2020. The highest sustained wind speeds measured by the WTM can be VIEWED HERE.

The winds ramped up by late morning and peaked between midday and mid-afternoon at most locations. Sustained westerly winds of 25 to 35 mph were common, while gusts generally peaked between 40 and 50 mph over the South Plains and southern Texas Panhandle. The strongest gusts, in excess of 50 mph, affected the I-40 Corridor of the Texas Panhandle.


Observed high temperatures, as recorded by the West Texas Mesonet (WTM), on November 14th. The total Red Flag minutes measured by the WTM on the 14th can be FOUND HERE.

The stout winds also lofted dust, painting the sky with a reddish-brown hue. Thankfully the visibility restrictions were relatively minor in most locations, generally no lower than 4 miles. The dry downslope winds caused temperatures to soar into the 70s and 80s, well above mid-November averages. The warm and dry winds created widespread critical fire weather through the afternoon hours. These conditions supported a few wildfires Saturday afternoon, including one in far northwest Hockley County, another in southwest Childress County and a final one near Dougherty, in southeast Floyd County.


Colorful, dusty sunset Saturday evening (14 November 2020).

The winds gradually decreased late in the day, but lingering dust in the air still managed to provide a colorful conclusion to the day.