As the low associated with Tropical Depression Erin deepened into the early morning hours of August 19th, it passed roughly over Southern Blaine County or the Watonga and Geary area. The deepening low passing through Oklahoma was already contributing to breezy overnight conditions, but persistent thunderstorm activity in the Geary/Watonga area aided in producing severe and destructive wind gusts that lasted for several hours.

Geary Area:

In Geary, tree damage was fairly widespread. Some structural damage to homes and businesses also occurred. A retirement home lost a section of its roof and a neighboring home had siding peeled off and its garage door blown in. A mobile home on the east side of town was blown over. There was some damage to a convenience store and the siding on the canopy was peeled but still attached. Based on the damage found, winds in Geary probably peaked in the 80 to 85 mph range.

Left: Flipped mobile home on the east side of town. Right: Garage door blown inward

Watonga Area:

To the north, between Watonga and Geary, there was some tree and minor structural damage visible from Highway 281. In Watonga, the damage was not nearly as widespread as in Geary but there was still some structural damage found. Power poles were found to be leaning or blown down all around the city. The north side of Watonga seemed to have the most widespread wind damage. The Watonga Airport had several hangers completely destroyed and some airplanes damaged. Two light towers at the high school baseball field were collapsed and one was bent. Tree damage around the city was fairly widespread. Based on the damage found, and the ASOS station at the Watonga airport recording an 82-mph wind gust before failing, winds in Watonga probably peaked in the 85 to 95 mph range.

Left and right: Destroyed hangars at Watonga Regional Airport.


Left: Damaged and flipped airplanes. Right: Zoomed in version of right side of previous picture.


Left: Debris in destroyed hangar. Right: Bent light pole at high school baseball field.