A devastating tornado struck the Texas Panhandle, leaving in its wake destruction and chaos. The severe storm hit Perryton, Texas on Thursday, killing at least three people and injuring dozens more. The National Weather Service in Amarillo confirmed the tornado’s occurrence, and the Perryton Fire Chief reported the deaths.
The storm caused widespread damage to the city, and rescue efforts were underway throughout the night. Weather service meteorologist Luigi Meccariello stated that there were ongoing rescues. A tornado watch was issued for north Texas and much of Oklahoma, including both the Oklahoma City and Dallas/Ft. Worth metro areas. This watch indicates that weather conditions are ripe for tornadoes to form.
Severe weather conditions were forecasted in the region, including damaging wind gusts, large hail, and a few tornadoes. The storm caused hailstones larger than 2 inches in diameter and strong wind gusts along the more intense parts of a fast-moving line of storms. The severe weather front was moving southeast across Oklahoma by Thursday night, and the weather service predicted a second round of storms in that state and portions of Texas.
Nearly 50,000 customers were without electricity in Texas and Oklahoma on Thursday night, according to poweroutage.us. In western Florida, one person was reported dead Thursday night after a tree fell on their home as severe thunderstorms and a confirmed tornado moved through Escambia County. The weather service also warned of flooded roads across Pensacola and urged motorists to stay off the roadways.
Perryton, a city of nearly 8,300, had several agencies in nearby cities and counties send emergency personnel to assist with tornado damage. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement that several state resources, including the Division of Emergency Management, were deployed to meet urgent life-safety needs in Perryton.
Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard announced a curfew from midnight to 6 a.m. Friday due to the widespread destruction and downed utility lines. Perryton officials confirmed three people were dead, and more than 50 people were hospitalized during a news conference Thursday night.
Flattened homes, downed trees, and power lines were visible from the scene, according to footage and images. The whole city was without power, and facilities were de-energized for safety purposes. Xcel Energy reported that transmission lines supplying the city with electricity had sustained damage, and many lower voltage distribution lines were down in the city. Personnel worked to ensure the safety of Perryton residents and first responders, but an estimated time of restoration was not yet available.
According to AccuWeather, Thursday’s tornado since is the first to track through Perryton. This tornado’s aftermath is a reminder of the importance of being prepared for severe weather conditions. Please stay safe and stay informed.
References
- https://data.usatoday.com/rolling-storm-damage-report/2023-06-15/?embed=yes&ct=33.49,-88.42&cz=4
- https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/hpcdiscussions.php?disc=pmdspd
- https://t.co/8NdJxggqAn
- https://t.co/p7njVyyk2B
- https://twitter.com/breakingweather/status/1669331953080758275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/15/severe-storms-forecast-in-oklahoma-kansas-and-texas-nws-says/70325219007/
- https://twitter.com/AlexDriggars/status/1669523392234496003
- https://twitter.com/amarilloglobe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
- https://twitter.com/TXWX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
- https://t.co/wssiHPcUeW
- https://twitter.com/AlexDriggars/status/1669523392234496003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
