TEXAS · POTTER & RANDALL COUNTY

Amarillo wind load requirements on the extreme High Plains

Flat, treeless, tornado-prone Panhandle terrain pushes Amarillo design wind speeds among the highest inland values in Texas under ASCE 7-22.

110–125MPH RISK CAT II (3-SEC GUST)
CEXPOSURE · OPEN HIGH PLAINS
ASCE 7-22CITY OF AMARILLO BUILDING SAFETY

ASCE 7-22 · WIND & EXPOSURE

Why the Panhandle drives Exposure C pressures

Hundreds of miles of flat, open terrain leave almost no surface roughness, so winds reach buildings near full strength.

Open, treeless terrain

Flat grassland and farmland with minimal obstructions place nearly all Amarillo sites in Exposure Category C.

EXPOSURE C

Persistent high winds

Strong, year-round westerly winds and severe-thunderstorm straight-line gusts make this one of the windiest regions in Texas.

RISK CAT II 110–125

Tornado Alley core

Amarillo sits in the heart of Tornado Alley; critical facilities often add tornado-resistant detailing (ASCE 7 Ch. 32 / ICC 500) beyond basic wind loads.

TORNADO-PRONE

PERMIT-READY · POTTER & RANDALL COUNTY

What you need to comply in Amarillo

Four inputs define a City of Amarillo Building Safety wind submittal under ASCE 7-22.

Design wind speed

110–125 mph 3-second gust for Risk Category II; higher categories read a higher-return-period map.

110–125 MPH

Exposure category

Exposure C governs nearly all sites; site-specific surface roughness per ASCE 7 §26.7 confirms it.

EXPOSURE C

Risk category

Classify per ASCE 7-22 Table 1.5-1; higher categories select a longer-return-period speed map.

TABLE 1.5-1

PE-sealed calcs

Commercial and engineered structures need MWFRS and C&C pressures sealed by a Texas-licensed PE.

TEXAS PE

EMERALD · GET COMPLIANT

Run Amarillo wind loads in minutes

Enter any Amarillo address to apply the 110–125 mph range, Exposure C and ASCE 7-22 automatically, with PE-ready output for City of Amarillo Building Safety.