By rssfeeds-admin 
5. Rising Star flood damages 90% of downtown businesses
On Saturday, May 4, the Big Country experienced heavy rainfall, resulting in flooding that affected 90% of businesses in downtown Rising Star. Emergency services conducted water rescues while the community cleared debris and assessed the damage. In response to the situation, Judge Hullum signed a Declaration of Disaster.
4. Abilene records hottest day ever with sweltering 113°F, more record-breaking heat ahead
It seems safe to say that someone must have put the Big Country in a microwave this summer, as we broke several temperature records. On Wednesday, August 21, Abilene recorded its hottest day ever at 113°F, surpassing the previous August record of 111°F from 2023.
On Tuesday, August 20, Abilene experienced record-breaking heat, reaching a high of 109°F. This marked the hottest August 20 recorded in the city, surpassing a previous record set in 2023. Overall, August was the fourth warmest on record. Looking back to the previous month, July also had 10 days with temperatures of 100°F or higher.
3. Severe weather in the Big Country: Potential for hail, damaging winds & tornadoes
When severe weather is forecasted to impact the Big Country, our storm team publishes articles like this one to keep the community informed. This story was published just an hour before an EF-2 tornado struck Knox County, causing damage to homes and trees, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. On that day, at least 27 tornadoes occurred in the NWS Norman forecast area.
2. Tornado outbreak in May
If you live in the Big Country, you most likely know that tornadoes are a common occurrence. However, experiencing four tornadoes in just two days is unusual. On May 2, an EF-3 tornado struck Hawley, while an EF-2 tornado impacted Ballinger. The following day, an EF-2 tornado hit Silver, and Robert Lee was affected by an EF-3 tornado.
1. ‘Oh my gosh. There’s people’: Storm chaser rescues family live on YouTube during Hawley tornado
When a powerful EF-3 tornado hit Jones County, storm chaser Freddy McKinney was livestreaming as he witnessed the tornado destroy a home. As he went to check if anyone was inside, he saw a family of four running for their lives toward him.
The live stream concludes as McKinney dials 9-1-1, stating he’s “a storm chaser, and I have injured people in my car.”
McKinney transported them to a hospital, where they were treated and released.
Afterward, we caught up with the family, who recalled those terrifying moments when “they were whirled around inside.” The Lambert family is now on the road to recovery, and the community is helping them rebuild what was lost.
As we wrap up our Big Country 2024 weather recap, it’s clear that this year brought its fair share of extreme conditions—devastating floods, powerful tornadoes, and scorching heatwaves. Looking ahead to 2025, we can only hope for calmer weather, but no matter what lies ahead, we’ll be ready to navigate it. Stay weather-ready, stay safe, and we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.
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