Wind causing numerous power outages around Central Texas

Austin American-Statesman ^ | Feb. 25, 2013 | Julie Chang

[bgill]

About 10,000 Austin Energy customers are without power Monday afternoon because of high winds, utility spokesman Ed Clark said.... About 1,700 customers are without power Monday afternoon in Pflugerville... Wind has knocked out power for about 1300 customers across Bastrop, Lee and Caldwell counties... San Marcos The city’s Electric Utility and Transportation Departments are responding to numerous calls about power outages and six reports of downed trees

[ConservaTexan]

This is one of the craziest things I have ever seen. It was a very interesting drive from San Marcos to 30 miles north of Austin. My truck was almost blown into the DPS truck in the next lane.

[MamaTexan]

Howling like a banshee here in Liberty Hill. A few limbs down off the old oak, neighbors have lost a few shingles off their roof and the birds have had a heck of a time staying on the feeders all day.

[Conserev1]

Shoulda had a wind mill!

[Rebelbase]

Hunkered down?

[Rebelbase]

Storms like this are when the Comanche really appreciated the stronghold of Palo Duro Canyon.

[okie01]

Storms like this are when the Comanche really appreciated the stronghold of Palo Duro Canyon.

I'll swear that, when you stand on the rim of the Palo Duro, you can hear Bob Wills' twin fiddles on the wind.

[DH]

Down here in Alice, Texas we have had winds up to 58 mph.

I lost some shingles on one of my houses.

I’ve not seen wind down here like this since 1998. With the extreme drought it looks like a dust bowl picture.

[Squantos]

We are buried and without power here in the Panhandle .....we got hit hard with gusts to 60mph plus the snow .... Drifts and visibility etc were real problem this time . Snow no problem if its deep. But add super high winds for 20 plus hours and so much snow you can’t see the street 20 yards away.... Wood stove and a few full cords of hickory made it passable .... Charged up my iPad and phones on the generator but tonight we’re on oil lamps and wood stoves still.

It was a event by our standards.... TXDOT plow and heavy equipment operators are the Hero’s of the day.... No 911 call was answered unless they lead the way to the address. In town and on the high plains.

Staying home again tomorrow to dig out and Stay away from the slip and sliders sure to be playing around for a few days....

Come on spring !

[justa-hairyape]

Those last two storms have really dropped a lot of moisture to an area that really needed the water. The funny part is that we may have more snow in Texas now then some upper Midwestern states. Perhaps that means their time is coming up soon ! Do not know why they think these beast will weaken over the midwest.

[justa-hairyape]

I'll swear that, when you stand on the rim of the Palo Duro, you can hear Bob Wills' twin fiddles on the wind.

The West Texas wind actually makes music-like noises when it blows through a long line of trees or high fencing. However, when you ride a bike into the West Texas wind, it feels more like the West Texas burn. At least that is what happens to your leg muscles.

[Squantos]

Yeah see my # 38 this thread ..... twas a beaut !

[Squantos]

Yeah see my # 28 this thread ..... twas a beaut !

[UCANSEE2]

I have found these websites to be valuable during inclement weather. I have them in a group bookmark so I can open them all at once.

http://www.weather.gov/Radar

http://www.weather.gov/satellite?image=ir

http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/data/geo/

http://hint.fm/wind/

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/national/weather-surface-maps

http://www.stormsurfing.com/cgi/display_alt.cgi?a=glob_250

http://www.intellicast.com/National/Wind/JetStream.aspx

[Rebelbase]

I’m glad that you’re safe and warm.

[justa-hairyape]

So to get government help you had to call 911 and wait for a plow ? Wonder if they charged you for all that ? Guess doing a little bit of prepping paid off in the long run. Maybe one of these days our federal government will learn that lesson.

[Squantos]

Thanks Buddy !

Stay safe !

[basil]

I’ve never experienced anything like this before. I think West Texas gets a lot more wind than we do.

We are now having horrible dust storms brought about by the wind.

[Squantos]

Not sure what yer talking about ..... deep snow and drifts taller that a 4x4 truck , storm in progress and ya have a problem with folks that had strokes, heart attacks and a baby to be delivered per what few I heard on the scanner during this storm.

Yeah...TXDOT carved a path for the EMS.

[fattigermaster]

We had 50+ gusts and rain all day in N Fl too.

And what’s weird, is though the wind has died down there’s this really strange sound coming from the sky, been going on for hours...like a cross between a pipe organ and the drone of a propeller plane, but LOUD...and you can feel the vibration from it.

Anybody else getting loud sounds like this from overhead?

[norwaypinesavage]

I live on a narrow wash in Hill Country. The wind is blasting up the wash. I need to get an anemometer.

We just had an interesting TV event. There was a momentary drop out of power, not a surge. The TV wouldn't restart. I unplugged it and then plugged it in again after several seconds. There was no change. I then unplugged it for several minutes. It seemed to work after that, but the sound would hiccup every six seconds. I the unplugged it again (the third time) for several minutes and it now works. I don't understand what the second long power down did that the first one didn't accomplish.