A potent storm system swept over the U.S. Southern Plains on the 4th and produced damaging westerly winds that contributed to blowing dust and wildfires across west Texas.
While the most significant public impacts occurred over the Texas Panhandle, winds sustained at speeds greater than 40 mph and gusts up to 66 mph were recorded by the Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet and the KVII-TV Schoolnet over the extreme southwestern Panhandle and the northern South Plains. Local officials reported that these winds caused near-zero visibilities in blowing dust along U.S. Highway 60 in Parmer County, where a few minor vehicular collisions occurred. The structure of a business in downtown Friona (Parmer County) was partially unroofed by the winds, and a downed tree fell onto a car in Dimmitt (Castro County). No injuries were reported.
The strong winds downed a number of utility lines, which combined with abnormally warm temperatures and drought conditions resulted in at least three large wildfires. A 1,000 acre wildfire ignited just after 10:00 CST near Texas Highway 86 on the Castro and Swisher County Line. This fire destroyed a home, but no injuries were reported. A fire  estimated to have consumed 400 acres began just east of Claytonville (Swisher County) and spread eastward over the Briscoe County line shortly after 12:30 CST. A third wildfire burned at least 300 acres and damaged oil field equipment in western Yoakum County, when winds downed power lines north of Denver City just after 16:00 CST. The fires resulted in no injuries on the South Plains, but wind and fire-related weather hazards combined to result in an estimated $125,000 in damages.
A list of measured severe wind gusts follows:  66 mph at Lazbuddie (Parmer County), 65 mph at Dimmitt (Castro County), 65 mph at Friona (Parmer County), 63 mph at Hart (Castro County), and 61 mph at Silverton (Briscoe County).

Wildfire in BRISCOE, TEXAS
From 04-APR-09 12:10:00 to 04-APR-09 14:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Wildfire in CASTRO, TEXAS
From 04-APR-09 11:10:00 to 04-APR-09 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Wildfire in SWISHER, TEXAS
From 04-APR-09 11:10:00 to 04-APR-09 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

High Wind in SWISHER, TEXAS
From 04-APR-09 11:30:00 to 04-APR-09 12:30:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 39.00 MS
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in PARMER, TEXAS
From 04-APR-09 09:35:00 to 04-APR-09 12:55:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 57.00 MG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in CASTRO, TEXAS
From 04-APR-09 09:55:00 to 04-APR-09 13:20:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Dust Storm in PARMER, TEXAS
From 04-APR-09 10:10:00 to 04-APR-09 13:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

High Wind in BRISCOE, TEXAS
From 04-APR-09 13:35:00 to 04-APR-09 13:35:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High Wind in BAILEY, TEXAS
From 04-APR-09 12:05:00 to 04-APR-09 13:05:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 MS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wildfire in YOAKUM, TEXAS
From 04-APR-09 16:00:00 to 04-APR-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

High Wind in YOAKUM, TEXAS
From 04-APR-09 13:00:00 to 04-APR-09 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 35.00 ES
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement