7/13/2023 0 Comments Avalanche journal newspaperThose areas have fewer than 2,000 people combined.Ī cooling center was opened in Matador with highs expected near 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius). Power outages were widespread across the sparsely populated west Texas region, with over 900 customers losing power in the Matador and Jayton areas, according to. “You would look on one side where we had a general merchandise store completely flattened to the ground, but across the street there’s a house that’s still standing and the vehicles haven’t even moved from the driveway,” Delgado said by telephone. A restaurant's walls were all knocked down, but the booths remained standing in what was called a “jaw-dropping” scene by Derek Delgado, a spokesperson for Lubbock Fire Rescue. Homes were damaged, buildings were flattened and power lines were snapped in half. The worst damage appeared to be in Matador - a town of about 570 people about 70 miles (112 kilometers) northeast of Lubbock in Motley County. Wednesday “was definitely a rare combination of high-end wind shear and storms of extreme instability,” Ziebell said. The weather service sent crews to survey the damage in west Texas on Thursday and determine the strength of the tornadoes, but the team had not reported its findings as of early Thursday afternoon, according to meteorologist Robert Barritt in Lubbock. Much of the wind damage near Houston - downed trees and knocked down power lines and fences - happened north of the city. The previous record there was 82 mph (132 kph) during Hurricane Ike in 2008. The weather service reported a 97 mph (156 kph) wind gust - the strongest recorded at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston since data collection began there in 1969. The storm produced 109 mph (175 kph) winds in Jayton, as well as hail more than 4 inches (10.2 centimeters) wide, Ziebell said. “We’re trying to clean up the mess now and go from there.” “Everybody in the world is offering to come help, which is good,” Moore said. The city is receiving lots of help from people arriving from outside the community, he said. There’s a few people that didn’t make it out of the house, but we did rescue several people and they made it out all right.” “We probably had about two minutes of warning to get everybody together and get to safety. “It was supposed to move east of us, and within a five-minute timespan, it all changed and switched directions and came straight through Matador,” Moore said. The damage was concentrated on a 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) stretch with businesses and homes demolished along the west side of Matador, a town where “everybody knows everybody,” said Brandon Moore, Matador’s water superintendent who is also a volunteer firefighter. He called it “certainly rare to see all at the same time - killer tornadoes, hurricane-force winds and softball-sized hail.” Wednesday, a supercell developed near Amarillo before striking the small town of Matador, said senior forecaster Matt Ziebell with the National Weather Service in Lubbock. Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued Thursday afternoon in parts of Oklahoma and Texas while tornado warnings were issued in parts of Texas and Colorado.Ībout 8 p.m. Storms were forming again Thursday afternoon, and National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Ferguson in Amarillo said they were possible into the night, with a chance of more large hail - up to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) in diameter - and winds up to 70 mph (113 kph). His statement said the declaration will help state authorities respond swiftly to devastated communities. The declaration was first issued June 16 and amended three times in response to severe weather. Greg Abbott added six counties in the region to a disaster declaration on Thursday. (Annie Rice/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal via AP) Annie Rice/AP Show More Show Less A line of severe storms produced what a meteorologist calls a rare combination of multiple tornadoes, hurricane-force winds and softball-sized hail in west Texas, killing at least four people and causing significant damage around the town of Matador, a meteorologist said Thursday. (Annie Rice/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal via AP) Annie Rice/AP Show More Show Less 5 of24 Jaci Deweese, left, and Ashley Krider pick up coffee to take to the local nursing home after a tornado, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Matador, Texas. Smith was in the cafe during the tornado and "It felt like forever but only lasted 20 seconds." A line of severe storms produced what a meteorologist calls a rare combination of multiple tornadoes, hurricane-force winds and softball-sized hail in west Texas, killing at least four people and causing significant damage around the town of Matador, a meteorologist said Thursday. 3 of24 4 of24 Pat Smith looks through his restaurant, Matador Diner, after a tornado, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Matador, Texas.
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