Laughlin Air Force Base Radar Crushed By Thunderstorm Winds

The NEXRAD radar KDFX, located at Laughlin AFB in Texas was literally crushed by a thunderstorm microburst on May 26, 2001. The radar estimated winds at 64 knots (74 mph -- hurricane force) at its last scan before it stopped reporting. Needless to say, this radar will be out of service for some time :) Click for a larger image; temporarily stored online at www.airweaassn.org. As of early June, the radar was expected to be restored "between July and September" according to the NWS.

Below is the Local Storm Report issued by the National Weather Service. Also available are links to actual radar images from the KDFX Radar that night:
NWS 04:40Z | 06:00Z | 06:12Z (Final) | Accu Loop 5:43Z-6:12Z | VELOCITY LOOP

NWUS54 KEWX 260901
LSRSAT
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO, TX
400 AM CDT SAT MAY 26 2001

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....


0112 AM      BRACKETVILLE           TX    WIND DAMAGE
05/26/01     KINNEY                       WINDS IN EXCESS OF
                                          64 KNOTS CAUSED 
                                          MAJOR DAMAGE TO RADAR.
                                          ESTIMATES FROM LAST RADAR
                                          IMAGE.