As area residents begin cleaning up after Monday night’s storm, National Weather Service officials visited Brownwood to see the damage caused by high winds and determine just how the storm’s strength grew and caused such unexpected damage that was not picked up on radar.
National Weather Service Forecast Office of San Angelo’s Meteorologist in Charge Steve Lyons, Warning Coordination Meteorologist Hector Guerrero, and Senior Forecaster Mike Johnson came to assess the damage and gather information from Brown County Emergency Management Coordinator Brent Bush, Fire Chief Del Albright and to speak with City of Brownwood Officials in order to give an explanation of why no warning was given of the storm’s strength.
Guerrero explained that the storm Brownwood experienced was a borderline storm, unlike a super cell and that winds most likely reached 60-65mph based on the damage seen and the features visible on radar as the storm built.
“The temperature hit near 100° Monday and as the rain fell, it evaporated and cooled the air rapidly causing temperatures to drop into the 70s,” said Guerrero. “It was a very strong storm, no doubt.”
Officials suspect that a microburst or possibly a macroburst of wind caused the severe damage to the Austin Avenue Church of Christ.
“The downbursts of a thunderstorm are very difficult to warn on,” Guerrero said. It’s easier to warn on a squall line storm or a super cell, and as far away from radar as Brownwood is, it makes it very challenging.”
Albright stated that there were 2700 residents without electricity and 500 remained without power Tuesday afternoon. Most of the power outages were caused by the wind he explained.
“We had around 200 calls of power lines down, transformers arching and causing problems,” said Albright. He said that firefighters were out until around midnight responding to these calls and clearing the roadway of fallen trees, limbs, trashcans and dumpsters which had floated down the street due to the minor flooding.
According to Guerrero and Lyons, storms are closely monitored by radar before any warnings are issued and they must meet certain criteria.
“Warnings are issued on very specific criteria and sometimes everything doesn’t show up on radar,” said Lyons. “For someone who hates to be wrong, I’m in the wrong business. We are in the business of predictions which are not always exact.”
Albright explained that he no longer monitors weather, and that the city now relies on the DeltAlert warning system, which gets its information from the National Weather Service and in turn issues alerts based on the areas of expected impact.
“We have certain criteria also to activate the local sirens,” said Albright. “The winds came up so suddenly.”
Lyons stated that the NWS did issue a special weather alert which some may not have received due to the loss of power and the fact that the NOAA weather radios broadcast only warnings and watches.
Albright urged area residents to register for the
Chief Albright visits with Lyons, Guerrero and Johnson of the National Weather Service in San Angelo.
Untangling the roof at Austin Avenue Church of Christ after the storm.
Picking up the pieces of the roof of the Family Life Center.
Damaged church nursery
