Weather Texas: 90 mph winds destroy TV station in Abilene

Severe microburst shatters Abilene Sunday night

During the late hours of Sunday, severe storms surged across West Central Texas, unleashing destructive wind events that left a trail of devastation in Taylor and Fisher Counties. According to the National Weather Service, supercells first struck Fisher County around 8:00 p.m., with wind speeds estimated at more than 100 miles per hour (mph)—equivalent to over 160 kilometers per hour (km/h).

These winds toppled transmission poles northeast of Rotan, flattened barns and outbuildings near Roby, and caused significant damage to trees and power infrastructure in Sylvester.

Abilene hit by 90 mph microburst: TV station destroyed

By 11:00 p.m., the storm system moved into Abilene, where a violent microburst with winds reaching 90 mph (145 km/h) caused catastrophic damage. The KTXS news station, located on North Clack Street, was severely damaged when a 199-foot transmission tower collapsed onto the building.

The impact also toppled a large rooftop air conditioning unit, causing a garage roof collapse, and completely tore off the carport roof. Nearby, north Abilene experienced additional impacts, including damaged trees, bent road signs, and structural harm to recreational infrastructure, such as a screen at the drive-in theater and a brick wall at the Hardin-Simmons University football field.

No injuries reported amid widespread destruction

Despite the intensity and scale of destruction, officials confirmed that no injuries occurred during the storm events. Emergency response teams remained active through the night to assess property damage and ensure public safety across the impacted areas.