South Austin Rollover Blamed On Wind Gusts (Video)

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX — You might have noticed it's been a tad windy in Austin the last couple of days. A scene in South Austin — where a big rig overturned amid 30-mile-per-hour wind on Thursday — helped illustrate this.

Police were called near the 6500 block of Metropolis Drive at around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday to the scene of the overturned 18-wheeler that some observers say was at least partially blamed on the whipping winds. One eyewitness had the presence of mind to record the scene, the footage showing the trailer of the truck on its side with the heavier cab remaining upright.

The good news: No injuries were reported. Below is the video captured by Sam Riojas, which was subsequently posted on Twitter.

Wind gusts of 30 miles per hour can cause trees and other plants to move as if they're dancing, as this video accompanied by peppy music dramatically illustrates:

The National Weather Service offers safety tips in the event of high wind gusts:

• If strong winds are forecast, ensure that all lightweight or loose objects on your property (grills, patio furniture, trash cans, small toys, etc.) are secured or brought indoors.
• Strong winds make driving high profile vehicles very difficult and sudden wind gusts can cause one to lose control of these vehicles. Pay extra attention to the road if you must drive a high profile vehicle and be prepared for sudden changes in the wind. Try not to drive on roads that are perpendicular to the wind direction (ex. N-S roads with a W-E wind).
• Remove dead or rotting trees on your property long before a high wind event. Weak trees can fall over in even a moderately strong wind and possibly damage structures and take out power lines.

Local wind intensity is expected to ebb through the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. Gusts will still be present on Friday during the day, but downgraded to a maximum of 20 miles per hour. Thereafter, winds velocity will be nearly imperceptible at a negligible five miles per hour through Sunday.

>>> Photo by Mahkeo on Unsplash