On the High Plains, wind, hail and blowing dust are the main tests for a garage door. After a windy or dusty day, wipe the sensor lenses, clear the track and look for gaps or a crooked section. After hail, check panels, windows and seals. If a door scrapes, hangs crooked or has a broken spring or cable, stop using it and call a technician.
What the weather has done on the High Plains
The National Weather Service office in Lubbock reported that on March 14, 2025, an intense storm system brought hurricane force winds to the southern Texas Panhandle and northern South Plains, with thick blowing dust over the entire region. A peak gust of 84 mph was measured by the West Texas Mesonet near Friona and Dimmitt.
The same summary records tennis-ball size hail in Littlefield on April 22 that year. We are not saying every year brings the same, only that a garage door in this region may face strong wind, hail and dust in one season.
Wind: what it does to a door
The Texas Department of Insurance says garage doors are especially vulnerable to high winds because of their long span and relatively lightweight material. The National Weather Service says that when winds are sustained at 40-50 mph, isolated wind damage is possible.
Signs of wind trouble are a door that rattles more than before, a gap along the side, a bulging panel, or a door that stops partway. Disconnect nothing and force nothing: if the door scrapes or hangs crooked, stop and call.
Dust: sensors, tracks and the opener
The National Weather Service says dust storms form in dry areas with loose, exposed soil when high winds pick it up. After one, dust settles in the places a garage door needs clean: the safety sensor lenses near the floor, the track, the rollers and the opener rail.
- Wipe both sensor lenses with a soft dry cloth.
- Wipe dust and grit out of the track with a dry cloth.
- Look at the bottom seal for packed dirt or a gap.
- With the door closed, watch it run once and listen for new grinding.
What to check by situation
| After | What to check | Call a technician if |
|---|---|---|
| A high wind day | Panels, hinges, track brackets and the side seals | The door scrapes, hangs crooked or sits out of the track |
| A dust storm | Sensor lenses, track, bottom seal, opener rail | The door reverses by itself or the opener struggles |
| Hail | Dents, cracked windows, torn seals | A panel is creased near a hinge |
| Every spring and fall | Remote batteries, opener light, rollers | A roller wobbles or a cable looks frayed |
A look and a listen is enough for your own check. Springs and cables stay with a technician.
After hail
Hail dents panels, cracks window inserts and splits seals. Small dents alone rarely stop a door from working, but a crease near a hinge can make it bind. Our guide on hail damage to a garage door has the full checklist, and photographs taken before any repair help if you file a claim.
Do not adjust a spring, a cable or the track yourself, and do not keep running the opener on a door that binds. See garage door repair and spring repair.
When a new door makes sense
If most panels are dented, the model is no longer made or the door is already worn, a new garage door may be the better use of money. A quote should list each part and the labor, and the door should be installed to the maker's instructions.
Who to call
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, springs, cables and openers and installs new doors in Texas, including Amarillo, Abilene, San Angelo and Odessa. The weather records above come from the Lubbock office's area. Call or send your details with a photo and we book the soonest visit.
Questions people ask
Can wind damage a garage door?
Yes. The Texas Department of Insurance says garage doors are especially vulnerable to high winds because of the wide opening and light material. A door can bend, gap or come out of its track.
What does blowing dust do to a garage door?
Dust and grit settle on sensor lenses, in the track and on the bottom seal. That can cause the door to reverse or run roughly. Wipe the lenses and track with a dry cloth.
Is hail damage to a garage door serious?
Small dents are often cosmetic, but a crease near a hinge can make the door bind. If it scrapes or hangs crooked, stop using it and call a technician.
How often should I check my garage door in this region?
Every spring and fall, and after any high wind, dust storm or hail. It takes a few minutes: look at the panels, seals and sensors, and listen as it runs.
Keep reading
Sources
- National Weather Service Lubbock: 2025 year-end summary (March 14 wind event, hail on the South Plains)
- National Weather Service: Wind safety (damaging wind speeds in strong thunderstorms)
- National Weather Service: Dust safety (where blowing dust forms and what to do)
- Texas Department of Insurance: Windstorm building FAQ (garage doors, high wind, ASTM E 330)