On Thursday, February 29, 2024, the Smokehouse Creek Fire expanded beyond 404 686 ha (1 million acres) in Texas, marking it as the largest wildfire in the state’s history. The blaze, which also extended into Oklahoma, has claimed the lives of at least two individuals and continues to pose a significant threat to homes, cattle, and livelihoods in the Texas Panhandle.
This aerial view shows burned houses and structures across Fritch, Texas caused by the Windy Duece Fire on February 28, 2024. More than 100 homes were destroyed from Fritch to Borger, Texas.
The Smokehouse Creek Fire started on Monday, February 26, 2024, in Hutchinson County, Texas, amidst adverse weather conditions, and has rapidly grown over the next 2 days to the second-largest wildfire in the state’s history. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared a disaster in 60 counties in response to the wildfire, which has only been 3% contained.
A series of out-of-control wildfires swept through the Texas Panhandle on February 27 and 28, 2024, prompting tens of thousands of residents to evacuate, causing widespread power outages, and forcing the temporary shutdown of the Pantex Plant, a critical nuclear weapons facility. The disaster, affecting numerous homes and prompting a disaster declaration in 60 counties, saw the Smokehouse Creek Fire rapidly grow to Texas’ 2nd largest wildfire in history.
A shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M5.3 hit near Mentone, western Texas at 10:27 UTC (04:27 LT) on November 8, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 7 km (4.3 miles). This is the fifth strongest earthquake in Texas on record.
A persistent and oppressive heat dome continues to produce dangerous heat and humidity across much of the U.S. South, breaking numerous all-time records in Texas.
Severe storms left a trail of destruction in West Texas on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, spawning multiple tornadoes, including one that directly hit the Matador community, resulting in at least three fatalities and widespread damage.
On June 10, 2023, Quintana Beach County Park officials reported an unprecedented occurrence of mass Menhaden fish deaths. Thousands of fish were found washed up on the shores due to an apparent reduction in dissolved oxygen levels in the water.
Dozens of families in Valle De Oro, located near the Canadian River, are grappling with an escalating flood crisis, following the river’s overflow due to a rare, high-magnitude rainfall event last week.
Severe storms, including strong winds, thunderstorms, and heavy hailstorms, hit eastern Texas, particularly Montgomery County, on May 23, 2023. The extreme weather conditions have led to several incidents, resulting in two fatalities, seven injuries, and significant damage.
