Vintage 2011

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Mother Nature's Fireworks ...

Looks like mother nature jumped the gun by a few hours and lit up the Amarillo Sky with a show of her own. Although the storm brought much needed rain to the city - it sure took it's sweet time getting here!

(C) Photo by Steve Douglass

Smoke from a distant fire ...

A couple photos of the smoke plume that drifted of Amarillo tonight - smoke from a forest fire burning near Santa Fe New Mexico.

All photos (C) Steve Douglass

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-Steve Douglass

Aint this the truth ...

Crawford Ranch wild fire -5-30-2011

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1500 acres burned - 2200 acres affected. It was creeping up on main power to Borger, Pampa and Fritch and the tankers (2) from Abilene nipped it in the bud.

We love our fire fighters - but I'd rather be chasing storms. Pray for rain.

-Steve Douglass

Lone tree - range fire ash ...

A cloud of ash from an extinguished grassfire near Plainview today was picked up by the wind making for interesting lighting and backdrop for this lone tree.

Amarillo area wildfire photos ...

Update: Westcliff & Woodlands area now open

Wildfire 5-29-11 #5 UPDATE 12:15am As of 12:15AM the City of Amarillo has lifted the mandatory evacuation for the Westcliff and the Woodlands area with the exception of Brookfield Street in Westcliff. This street remains closed at Coulter to the public. Potter County officials are keeping the mandatory evacuation in the Cliffside Estates, Mesquite Acres, Tascosita and the Stoneridge neighborhood (just north of 9th & Soncy). Tascosa Road from Coulter to Loop 335 will remain closed overnight.

Fire units will continue to patrol the area for any hot spots that might flare up. Some Fire and Police units and personnel have been released to return to their normal duties and/or timeoff. There are no further damage reports available at this time. The Emergency Operation Center is staffing down but will continue to support the field units and will remain open till 2:30am unless additional fires spark up.



Wildfire 5-29-11 #4 UPDATE on wildfire that started in Northwest Amarillo. A 911 call was received around 5:43pm for a vehicle that was on fire near 9th and Soncy. It is unknown how the vehicle caught on fire.

The fire spread quickly and proceeded in a Northern direction. The fire caused damage to some structures in the Tascosita addition and to structures in the Westcliff area. The fire as of 10:00pm is still not fully under control. At 8:30pm the City of Amarillo and Potter County officials declared a Mandatory evacuation for several neighborhoods; Woodlands, Westcliff, Cliffside Estates, Mesquite Acres, and Tascosita.

AFD, Potter Co Fire, Randall Co, Fire, as well as units from Dumas, Childress, Pampa, Hansford County and 2 task force units from the Texas Forrest Service are continuing to battle the fire.

The Amarillo Fire Department has 21 units on scene and has done a general alarm for off duty firemen to report. The fire continues to threaten homes in the above neighborhoods.

At this time reports are 7 structures have been damaged or lost. There are additional reports of damaged property but they have not been confirmed at this time. There are approximately 110 people in the receiving center (being run by the Red Cross) located at Grace Church at Plains & Western.











Sunday evening will not soon be forgotten for many Amarillo residents.

It was a night when flames and smoke filled the air and prompted mandatory evacuations for several areas in Amarillo. Unfortunately, Pronews 7 confirmed at least seven structures were damaged or lost as a result of the blaze.

This is the second time in a week parts of the Amarillo have been invaded by fire. The fire was wind-driven and pushed by Sunday's record breaking 103 degree heat.

As for the cause of the fire, Pronews 7 confirmed it started when a vehicle caught fire near 9th and Soncy at around 5:43 Sunday evening. Officials said the fire then spread quickly in a northern direction.

The City of Amarillo has not yet released any new information regarding the status of the evacuations in Cliffside Estates, Mesquite Acres, Tasosita and Stoneridge neighborhood. Tascosa Rd. from Coulter to Loop 335 remained closed overnight
(C) Steve Douglass

Tex Randall - still standing ...

Tex Randall -still standing welcoming everyone on Hwy 60 to Canyon. If he isn't restored soon- one day - after a windstorm I expect to see him ...gone.

(C) Steve Douglass

Compilation video - tornado outbreak in Oklahoma 5-24-11

First thunderstorm photos of Spring 2011

Storm system after it passed through Amarillo.

Photo (c) Steve Douglass

Home for the evening ,,,

Nuclear Sunset

Panhandle Skies 2011

Severe Weather Workshop This Weekend!

Don't forget - Severe Weather Workshop this weekend. I'll be showing my short video "Panhandle Skies" to kick off the lectures after lunch.

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Saved the sunset for you ...

Classic ...

It's a Ducknado!

It's a - -a Ducknado warning! I shot this at Loop 335 and Lakeside last night. As one farmer told me - "You don't want to be standing under one with your mouth open - son."

White against a winter sky

(C) Steve Douglass

Hope springs eternal ..

Sneek peek

I've been working on my latest weather video (Skyscapes 2011) for the upcoming Severe Weather Workshop in March. Here's a sneak peek ...