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!
I found your site on google blog search and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. Just added your RSS feed to my feed reader. Look forward to reading more from you.
– Sue.
That’s scary stuff… wind and fire.
Just a little update on this:
About 20,000 acres of Bailey County are charred, after a massive wildfire on Monday.
According to the National Weather Service, the fire also destroyed a barn, and two firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation.
Thick smoke forced authorities to shut down part of U.S. 84, between Sudan and Muleshoe.
At least ten fire departments, including Portales, New Mexico helped extinguish the blaze.
Wow! Amazing pic dude. Is that the new xti? How do you like it? 🙂
Heh, actually it’s my little 5 megapixel Fujifilm point and shoot. No way I would take that new Canon out in dust like that until I get some protection for it.