This wind this past Tuesday was something.<\/p>\n
According to the National Weather Service<\/a>, Lubbock\u2019s top sustained wind hit 54 miles per hour, with a peak gust of 73 miles per hour. That\u2019s not a breeze. That\u2019s a personality trait.<\/p>\n I sure hope you weren\u2019t wearing a skirt or kilt that day.<\/p>\n Around here, plastic bags and fast-food wrappers going airborne don\u2019t even register. That\u2019s background noise. But as I was making a quick trip up North University, I saw something extremely large crossing the road. It hit me that most people outside of Lubbock <\/a>wouldn\u2019t believe the things that go airborne here.<\/p>\n Ten Items That Are Found In The West Texas Wind<\/p>\n Here are ten that locals barely blink at \u2014 but outsiders would swear we\u2019re exaggerating.<\/p>\n 1. Trampolines<\/p>\n I had no idea how many people owned trampolines until I saw them wrapped around trees like modern art installations. Apparently, they\u2019re not yard equipment \u2014 they\u2019re temporary aircraft.<\/p>\n 2. Tumbleweeds<\/p>\n Yes, they\u2019re expected. But what outsiders don\u2019t understand is that some of these things are the size of compact cars. You don\u2019t \u201cstep over\u201d them. You yield.<\/p>\n 3. Seat Cushions<\/p>\n I\u2019ve found at least three in my yard. Folks try to make patio furniture comfortable, but if those cushions aren\u2019t tied down, they\u2019re headed to Amarillo.<\/p>\n 4. Realtor and Political Signs<\/p>\n These things are literally engineered to catch wind. Temporary campaign signs especially \u2014 they don\u2019t stand a chance. One good gust and they\u2019re canvassing a new zip code.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0Storage Containers\/Bins<\/p>\n I would\u2019ve sworn they were too heavy. But yes, that’s\u00a0what I saw Tuesday. The wind doesn\u2019t negotiate. It relocates.<\/p>\n 6. Kiddie Pools<\/p>\n Whether leftover from summer swims or doubling as a dog bath, these things can travel. A 73-mph gust turns them into flying saucers.<\/p>\n 7. Trucker Caps<\/p>\n I almost lost mine. You haven\u2019t lived until you\u2019ve watched your hat cartwheel down 34th Street while you debate whether it\u2019s worth chasing.<\/p>\n 8. Cardboard Boxes<\/p>\n This seems obvious \u2014 until you see a refrigerator-sized box glide across an intersection like it has somewhere important to be.<\/p>\n 9. Grill Covers<\/p>\n Public service announcement: buy the weighted kind. Otherwise, congratulations \u2014 you\u2019ve donated it to the greater South Plains.<\/p>\n 10. Roofing Shingles<\/p>\n Oh yes. The wind doesn\u2019t just mess with your patio \u2014 it audits your roof. Shingles sailing down the street like oversized playing cards is peak West Texas.<\/p>\n