News Summary
Severe storms over Memorial Day weekend left almost 150,000 customers in Texas without power. Areas in southeast Texas, especially Houston and Galveston, are currently facing outages and severe thunderstorm warnings. The National Weather Service forecasts ongoing showers and thunderstorms throughout the week, raising concerns about potential flash flooding, damaging winds, and more power outages. Governor Greg Abbott has activated emergency protocols in response to the storms, as efforts to assess damage and restore power continue across the affected regions.
Texas
Severe storms over the Memorial Day weekend have left nearly 150,000 customers in Texas without power. As of Tuesday morning, approximately 139,000 customers in southeast Texas were still facing outages, according to power outage data that tracks over 15 million customers.
Ongoing Storm Warnings and Power Restoration Efforts
Early Tuesday morning, areas near Galveston, located about 50 miles southeast of Houston, were under a severe thunderstorm warning. The National Weather Service cautioned residents of possible wind gusts reaching up to 60 mph and the risk of pea-sized hail. Houston itself remained under a severe thunderstorm warning until 1:45 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
More rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected in the Houston area throughout the week. On Sunday, over 100,000 customers in southeast Louisiana also experienced power outages attributed to a load-shedding directive issued around 4:30 p.m. local time. This was executed by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) to avert extensive outages on the power grid. As of Tuesday morning, Louisiana’s outage figures decreased to approximately 11,000.
CenterPoint Energy reported that about 75,000 customers in the greater Houston area were without power at 8 a.m. local time on Tuesday, while Entergy indicated that around 24,000 customers were affected due to the storm.
Damage Assessments and Safety Measures
Efforts to assess damage from the storms are ongoing, particularly in Conroe, where strong winds have caused several trees to fall. In Afton, north-central Texas, reports emerged of hail reaching the size of grapefruit on Sunday. Local media also showcased significant lightning activity recorded in Austin on Monday evening.
In response to the storm’s impact, Texas Governor Greg Abbott activated state emergency protocols as further heavy rains and potential flooding are anticipated throughout the week. The Storm Prediction Center has indicated that additional storms could result in damaging winds, large hail, lightning, and even possible tornadoes in regions like southeastern New Mexico and parts of Texas including San Antonio.
Risk of Flash Flooding and Future Storms
Areas in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia are also facing a level two out of five risk for severe storms. The National Weather Service warns that repeated storms may lead to an increased risk of flash flooding, particularly in urban environments and near smaller creeks. Forecasters are alerting residents about the potential for excessive rainfall across Texas and other southeastern states through Wednesday.
The primary threats from these storms remain damaging winds and large hail. In light of the ongoing power outages, CenterPoint Energy has deployed additional crews to assist with restoration efforts and continues to urge residents to report outages as well as track progress online.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
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Severe Thunderstorms Expected in Southeast Texas
Houston Enhances Emergency Preparedness with New Weather Stations
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for West and Southeast Texas
Houston’s Water Bills Set for Significant Increase
Severe Thunderstorms Cause Widespread Power Outages in Houston
Additional Resources
- KHOU: Houston Texas Power Outages
- Wikipedia: Power Outage
- USA Today: Houston Texas Power Outage Map
- Google Search: Houston Texas Power Outages
- NY Times: Texas Storms and Power Outages
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Storm
- Click2Houston: Live Power Outage Tracker
- Google News: Texas Storm May 2025
- KXXV: No Restoration Timeline in Central Texas
- Google Scholar: Texas Power Outages
- WFAA: Power Outages in North Texas
Author: STAFF HERE HOUSTON TX WRITER
HOUSTON STAFF WRITER The HOUSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREHouston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Houston, Harris County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Art Car Parade, and Chevron Houston Marathon. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Houston Partnership and Houston Area Urban League, plus leading businesses in energy and healthcare that power the local economy such as ExxonMobil, Schlumberger, and Houston Methodist. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
