TEXAS · MIDLAND
Where the Permian Basin wind runs unbroken across open oil country
Midland sits on flat, treeless West Texas high plains — open Exposure C terrain, persistent spring wind, and dust storms that shape every wind load in Midland County.
PERMIAN BASIN · WEST TEXAS
Flat oil country, nothing to slow the wind
Open high plains, sparse mesquite scrub, and pump-jack horizons mean the wind reaches structures at near-full speed. That is the engineering definition of Exposure C.
EXPOSURE C · OPEN TERRAIN
Why Midland reads as Exposure C almost everywhere
On the Llano Estacado plateau there are few obstructions taller than 30 ft for thousands of feet. The wind keeps its energy — and your design pressures climb.
Open plains, scattered low cover
Sparse mesquite and scrub give almost no shelter — the textbook case for Exposure C across most of Midland County.
EXPOSURE CPressure climbs vs. sheltered Exposure B
At 30 ft, the Kz exposure coefficient is 0.98 in C versus 0.70 in B — a +40% jump in velocity pressure on the same building.
+40% Kz AT 30 FTDowntown B is the exception, not the rule
Dense downtown blocks may justify Exposure B, but engineers must verify terrain for the full upwind fetch per ASCE 7-22 before claiming it.
VERIFY FETCHPERSISTENT WIND · SPRING DUST
Spring wind season and blowing dust never stop
Midland's hazard is not a single storm — it is relentless. Sustained spring wind, downburst outflow, and haboobs load structures day after day.
Sustained spring wind & fatigue
March through May brings days of 20–30 mph sustained wind with higher gusts — repeated loading on cladding, signage, and exposed equipment.
FATIGUE LOADINGDust storms & haboobs
Thunderstorm outflow drives West Texas haboobs — abrasive blowing dust, near-zero visibility, and sudden wind that scours building surfaces.
ABRASION + GUSTRISK CATEGORY · ASCE 7-22 TABLE 1.5-1
Risk category sets the Midland speed map you read
There is no importance-factor multiplier. A higher risk category points you to a longer return-period map and a higher design wind speed.
| Risk Category | Return-Period Map | Midland Design Speed | Typical Buildings |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | 300-year MRI | ~95–110 mph | Minor storage, agricultural, low-hazard structures |
| II | 700-year MRI | 100–115 mph | Homes, offices, retail, most occupancies |
| III | 1,700-year MRI | ~110–125 mph | Schools, large assembly, substantial-hazard facilities |
| IV | 3,000-year MRI | ~120–135 mph | Hospitals, fire stations, emergency shelters |
PERMIT COMPLIANCE · CITY OF MIDLAND
What a Midland permit submittal needs
City of Midland Building Inspections adopts the IBC with local amendments and references ASCE 7-22. Every structural set runs through a Texas PE.
IBC 2021 + ASCE 7-22
City adopts the International Building Code with West Texas amendments, referencing ASCE 7-22 for all wind load calculations.
CODE BASISTexas PE seal required
All structural wind calculations must be sealed by a Professional Engineer licensed in Texas — out-of-state seals are not accepted.
PE SEALEDJustify Exposure C
Document terrain over the upwind fetch. For most Midland sites the open plains drive Exposure C; downtown B claims must be supported.
EXPOSURE DOCCounty jurisdiction outside city
Projects beyond city limits fall under Midland County permitting; oil-field facilities add API tank and equipment wind analysis.
MIDLAND COUNTYOFFICIAL REFERENCES
Midland & Texas compliance resources
The authorities and standards behind every Midland wind load determination.
NEARBY & STATEWIDE
Compare across West Texas and beyond
Same open terrain, different local maps — see how neighboring cities and the statewide picture line up.
START YOUR CALCULATION
Run Midland wind loads in minutes
Enter any Midland zip and get ASCE 7-22 pressures — 100–115 mph speed range, Exposure C, risk-category maps, and PE-ready output for City of Midland review.