Wind, dust and wildfires (12 March 2022)

Wind, dust and wildfires (again)
12 April 2022

A powerful storm system ejecting from northern Rockies into the northern High Plains brought impactful weather to much of the nation in mid-April. Feet of snow fell across parts of Montana and North Dakota, where blizzard conditions also occurred. Unfortunately, the northern track and strong westerly flow on the south side of the system meant that West Texas received another healthy (or unhealthy) dose of wind, dust and critical fire weather.

The strongest winds visited the South Plains region Tuesday afternoon and evening (12 April 2022). Wind gusts from 50 to 60 mph were common across much of the South Plains into the Texas Panhandle. The wind, in combinations with the worsening drought and warm and dry conditions, meant conditions were ripe for blowing dust and extremely critical fire weather. 

Copious amounts of dust were lifted and carried across the region during the afternoon and evening hours, as it evident in the above satellite imagery. Lubbock, Childress and Plainview reported visibilities of 3 miles or less for an extended period of time as the large dust plume engulfed the region.

If the dust wasn't enough of a slap in the face, the gusty, warm and dry winds also supported several wildfires locally and regionally. One fire engulfed a few structures north of Reese Center; another fire threatened several buildings on the south side of Levelland (of the north side of the airport); and a third fire burned into the south side of Plainview. A three fires where eventually contained through the evening hours. Unfortunately, a more significant fire also ignited and quickly spread around Ruidoso, in the mountains of New Mexico. Known as the McBride Fire, it killed at least 2 people and destroyed 150+ structures as of April 14th.

Where all of the wind energy did encounter Gulf moisture, thunderstorms erupted over parts of north and central Texas. Several of these storms quickly became severe, including one that produce a number of tornadoes in central Texas. The most significant tornado caused extensive damage and injured 23 people near the community of Salado, located between Waco and Austin. Hail as large as 5.5 inches in diameter also fell out of the tornadic storm near Salado. The severe thunderstorms and tornadoes extended into parts of Louisiana, while another swath of hail, wind and tornadoes from this same large storm system impacted parts of Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.