A record-setting wind gust swept across West Texas this week, registering 111 mph at the Midland International Air and Space Port-eclipsing the previous local record by nearly 20 mph. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed the gust was caused by a rare meteorological event known as a “virga bomb,” producing wind speeds equivalent to a low-end Category 3 hurricane.
Why It Matters
This unprecedented gust not only set a new wind record for Midland but also caused significant property damage. The event occurred amidst a broader pattern of severe spring storms across the region, further intensifying scrutiny of the season’s extreme weather trends.
What to Know
Earlier this week, meteorologists warned of incoming storms with the potential to cause damaging winds and large hail across Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. AccuWeather warned of the potential for “significant” property damage in its forecast on Tuesday.
According to the San Antonio Express-News, the 111-mph wind gust was measured around 7:04 p.m. Tuesday near Midland International Airport. The phenomenon behind it, a virga bomb, occurs when heavy rainfall from a thunderstorm evaporates before hitting the ground. This evaporation cools the air rapidly, causing it to plunge downward at extreme speeds.
According to a post shared to X, formerly Twitter, by the NWS office in Midland, the previous wind speed record for the airport was 93 mph, set in June 2007. The other top record-setting winds occurred with an 82 mph gust in July 1987 and an 82 mph gust in September 1985…