By ops@our-hometown.com | on July 22, 2022

STRONG STORM — A home on Runaway Bay Drive in Runaway Bay was damaged by a downburst Wednesday afternoon. RICHARD GREENE/WCMESSENGER

Tory Arnold was laying on the loveseat looking at the radar when he felt the wind start to shake his home on Runaway Bay Drive Wednesday afternoon.

“All of a sudden it was like the sound you hear going through a car wash. It wasn’t a roar like a tornado. Then you heard things cracking,” said Arnold pointing at the roof of his home.

Arnold and his wife Elizabeth dashed toward the basement of their A-frame home in Runaway Bay, but didn’t make it before the front side of the home was ripped down and beams moved. Part of the carport collapsed on one of family’s vehicles. Neighbors helped them free it.

Arnold said fortunately no one was hurt and several neighbors stopped to offer help.

“I met probably 150 people today,” he said.

It wasn’t the first time for the Arnold’s home to be damaged in a storm. It was previously damaged in a 2013 storm.

“Don’t let anyone tell you lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice,” Arnold said.

WIDESPREAD DAMAGE — A downburst Wednesday snapped several trees at the RB Golf Club and Resort. RICHARD GREENE/WCMESSENGER

Throughout Runaway Bay several trees were snapped, including many along the fairways of the RB Golf Club course.

The storm rolled through around 5:30 p.m. Wind gusts of 39 mph were recorded at Bridgeport Municipal Airport just to the east of Runaway Bay.

Jennifer Dunn, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Fort Worth said the damage was likely caused by a downburst. “I looked at observations in that area, but none of them captured winds over 40 mph. Based on the damage pictures we have seen, this downburst likely resulted in winds nearing 65 to 70 mph.”

Oncor reported 700 customers without power in Runaway Bay and Balsora at the height of the storm. Power was restored to near all customers by 9:30, according to Oncor Area Manager Sabrina Easley. Only one customer was without power Thursday morning.

“We worked a few scattered outages overnight but no major outages,” Easley said.

Emergency officials responded to multiple accidents on U.S. 81/287 north of Alvord. One person was transported to Wise Health System in stable condition.

A few spots in Wise County received a little rain from Wednesday’s storm. Alvord received 0.55 of an inch. Rainfall at Bridgeport Municipal Airport measured 0.06 of an inch.

After the high temperature hit 109 Wednesday at Decatur Municipal Airport, Wonderful Wise received a bit of a break from the heat Thursday. The high topped out around 98. A few drops of rain dotted windshields Thursday morning. The high temperature Friday is expected to be around 98 with a heat index of 101. Highs will return to the triple digits over the weekend.

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