Stay put in heavy thunderstorms in Texas?

pamanc · 10-08-2018, 07:49 AM

We are overnight in Canadian Texas 100 miles north east of Amarillo Texas. HEAVY rain and thunderstorms all night and predicted rest of the day. Amarillo has some surface streets flooded. We are headed home to California after 6,000 miles so far. Question is, we have only travelled in fairly decent weather and not sure how to decide what to do.... stay put another night or try to figure out where to head. We aren’t really wanting to drive our Class C in heavy rain and winds. But also don’t want to stay here in case of heavier flooding. Thanks!

Camper_bob · 10-08-2018, 08:08 AM

If you're safe, I would stay put. No sense risking it, especially with heavy wind.

ETA: FWIW, we got stuck in Tulsa last year during Harvey. We were headed home while Harvey was making his mess. We probably could have made it, but we decided not to risk it and stayed put. We were there an extra 3 nights on top of our plan. When we drove home, we had a SIGNIFICANT tail wind because Harvey had cleared the coast and coming South out of Dallas, we had a stiff North wind from the rotation of the storm. Thankfully the wind was in our direction of travel or it would have been a ROUGH trip. I was closely watching the wind directions and speeds for a few days before we decided to make our break for it. As we got close to home, we were in the Southern part of the rotation, so the wind had shifted Westerly even though we were still headed straight South. The last hour of our trip was a little dodgy, but not so bad I couldn't handle it.

gprapim · 10-08-2018, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camper_bob

If you're safe, I would stay put. No sense risking it, especially with heavy wind.

X2

Rustic Eagle · 10-08-2018, 08:15 AM

X3

High winds in that part of the country aren't friendly with RV's..., been there and didn't do it.

If concerned about your present location flooding, consider moving to higher ground.

Bob

pamanc · 10-08-2018, 08:30 AM

Looking at the forecast we realize this is a big storm even for Texas. We are going to stay put. Hoping for better weather tomorrow. I love having a dry cozy place to read a good book. Even though we weren’t able to sleep through the thunder and lightning all night, our 2 fur babies did!

wags999 · 10-08-2018, 08:36 AM

You have a lot of nothing west of you, I also suggest to stay put. On 40 I saw a semi blown over, winds can get horrendous and far between places to get off the road.

Camper_bob · 10-08-2018, 08:45 AM

I would also consider the fact that the storm you're currently dealing with is a cold front. If your plan is to skip across NM on your way back West, you'll likely have a pretty strong cross wind out of the N/NW.

We did that a couple years ago headed East coming home from Colorado. We had an almost direct cross wind crossing the plains of NM. DW was driving and the rig was wiggling all over the place. It was doable, but we had to slow down, and she was pretty tired after just a few hours on the road.

Just be ready for it is all I'm saying, the wind will continue for at least a day after the weather clears, and those plains can be pretty brutal.

Plus, like Wags said, you've got a whole lotta nothing West of Amarillo.

pamanc · 10-08-2018, 08:57 AM

These comments are immensely helpful to a couple of newbies. It’s been such smooth sailing for the last 5 weeks guess this is one way to break us in. Just want to play it smart.

gprapim · 10-08-2018, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pamanc

These comments are immensely helpful to a couple of newbies. It’s been such smooth sailing for the last 5 weeks guess this is one way to break us in. Just want to play it smart.

That is all you have to do. Take into account the weather reports and just use common sense.

cabinetmaker · 10-08-2018, 09:59 AM

Like others have said stay put and let the storms pass. Those wind gusts in the panhandle can be brutal. Nothing in that part of Texas but tumble weeds so nothing to slow down the wind.

Traveling through that area years ago we had a strong west wind while traveling I40 just past the Texas border into New Mexico and the wind blew our front slide out awning open! Luckily it was went back but then opened again and again. This was on a Class A diesel pusher we had at the time. We were heading straight into the wind.

Like Bob said Many 18 wheelers have been blown over on I40. Be careful out there!

rgolding · 10-08-2018, 10:08 AM

If you are on high ground, stay put. I would make sure fuel and LPG are topped up, in case power is lost.

We have been in a couple of big storms with our Seneca. Our plan, if caught, in real bad stuff, is be stopped, slides in and legs down. Best is to be away from buildings, debris and stuff that can be moved. However, once things start, just ride it out.

pamanc · 10-08-2018, 10:12 AM

Great suggestions! I hadn’t thought about slides in. Glad we filled up both fuel and propane yesterday! Hopefully this will weaken by tomorrow. We are moving our rig soon to a drier spot. Ours has water running through it. DG surface thank goodness, not bare soil so not very muddy. Just wet.

LuckyDuck · 10-08-2018, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pamanc

These comments are immensely helpful to a couple of newbies. It’s been such smooth sailing for the last 5 weeks guess this is one way to break us in. Just want to play it smart.

Wise decision. Safe travels back. FWIW, it’s sunny, calm and 70 here in Redding — there’s no place like home

oldmanAZ · 10-08-2018, 10:21 AM

There's an app called 'Windy' (phone and PC) that I've found helpful in knowing the predicted wind speed and direction.

pamanc · 10-08-2018, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldmanAZ

There's an app called 'Windy' (phone and PC) that I've found helpful in knowing the predicted wind speed and direction.

I have that one! It is great and FREE! We’ve been using it the last couple days

pamanc · 10-08-2018, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuckyDuck

Wise decision. Safe travels back. FWIW, it’s sunny, calm and 70 here in Redding — there’s no place like home

You are from Redding too? Maybe we know each other. Patty and Tom
Mancuso

LuckyDuck · 10-08-2018, 10:31 AM

Yes — I’ll PM you...

RoyBraddy · 10-08-2018, 01:46 PM

I think all of those storms are the remnants of a recent hurricane that came into Mexico and up into Arizona. The WX MAPS are showing a hugh FLOOD ALRET now from IOWA down thru Texas all the way to the Mexico border in that large GREEN MARKED area. Been along time since seeing such a hugh flood alert... The whole desert basin is showing flood alerts starting West of Wichita Falls TX... The new TD tracking cones is going to add more water in the area for sure....

Roy Ken

Camper_bob · 10-08-2018, 01:52 PM

Yeah, apparently Hurricane Rosa dumped a lot in the area, then 2 strong cold fronts, then Sergio is going to skate in off the Pacific later this week and dump a bunch more rain.

Vaquero · 10-08-2018, 04:31 PM

RV park in Junction TX washed away today.
That's not likely in Amarillo, but be aware of low areas.
Good luck.

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