Brutal winds tore through Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Kansas on Friday, unleashing chaos with gusts reaching nearly 100 mph, flipping semi-trucks, fueling devastating wildfires, and creating blinding dust storms.
According to AccuWeather, the powerful winds, some reaching 95 mph in New Mexico and 83 mph in Texas, caused widespread disruption, leaving thousands without power and triggering multiple traffic pileups.
“I’ve never seen such a large area of 70-mph wind gusts,” said AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno.
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Dramatic video footage from Amarillo captured the sheer force of the winds, showing 18-wheelers being flipped over on Interstate 40 like toys. “There goes another one,” a storm chaser exclaimed as another truck succumbed to the gale-force winds.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Amarillo issued dust storm warnings, reporting near-zero visibility. “Take extreme caution out there!” they urged on social media.
AccuWeather reported that multiple pileups occurred across the region due to the combination of wind and dust, including a major incident on Interstate 27 south of Canyon, Texas, involving dozens of vehicles. In Oklahoma, at least six people were injured in accidents on Interstate 35 caused by heavy blowing dust. Authorities urged motorists to avoid all travel unless absolutely necessary.
Wind gusts reached 84 mph in Friona, Texas, and 82 mph in Dimmitt, accompanied by a dust storm that forced the closure of Highway 194. In New Mexico, gusts hit 95 mph in San Agustin Pass.
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There are nearly 100,000 customers without power in Texas, 73,000 in Oklahoma, 24,000 in Kansas, and 6,000 in New Mexico.
The fierce winds also fueled numerous wildfires across the region. Fire warnings were issued in the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma, with evacuation orders being issued in several areas, including towns near Oklahoma City.
“This is about as an extreme event as there can be,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Joe Lundberg. Satellite imagery from MyRadar showed dozens of fires erupting across Oklahoma, with strong winds and reduced visibility hindering firefighting efforts.
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“Friday’s wildfire risk covers a large part of the southern Rockies and High Plains and is forecast to reach extreme levels from eastern New Mexico and northwestern Texas through central Oklahoma,” Lundberg added. The wildfire risk is expected to peak on Friday before easing over the weekend.
Authorities across Texas urged residents to stay indoors if possible, emphasizing the severity of the weather conditions.
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