Severe Storms Cause Power Outages in Southeast Texas

News Summary

Severe storms have struck Southeast Texas, leaving over 180,000 residents without power. High winds and heavy rainfall have downed power lines, affecting multiple counties. Recovery efforts are in progress with utility companies working to restore electricity. Residents are urged to stay safe and report hazards. The weather remains unpredictable with more storms forecast in the coming days, as temperatures are set to reach near 90°F.

Houston, Texas – Severe storms overnight have led to widespread power outages across Southeast Texas, affecting over 180,000 residents at one point on Tuesday morning. As of 8:40 a.m., reports indicated that 71,566 customers from CenterPoint Energy and 23,790 customers from Entergy remained without power. The number of outages peaked at approximately 2 a.m., where more than 206,000 residents were impacted due to heavy rain and strong winds.

Initial assessments revealed that by 9:28 a.m., over 82,000 people across multiple counties, including Harris, Montgomery, and Fort Bend, were without electricity. CenterPoint Energy reported that around 63,092 customers and Entergy Texas accounted for 13,847 customers still experiencing outages at the latest update.

The outages are attributed to a combination of slow-moving storms, wind gusts reaching 60 to 70 mph, and lightning strikes that resulted in downed trees and power lines. Despite the significant disruptions, reports indicate that 94% of customers on the grid did not experience any service interruptions.

Recovery efforts are underway, with CenterPoint Energy deploying additional workforce resources to assist in restoring power to those affected. As of 9:15 a.m., the company reported that power had been restored to over 100,000 customers. The utility company recently launched a new cloud-based and mobile-friendly outage tracker, which provides real-time updates on power statuses, a feature developed following the experiences from Hurricane Beryl.

Residents are advised to be vigilant and avoid downed power lines, reporting any hazards to CenterPoint or Entergy directly. Both utility providers are closely monitoring the ongoing weather conditions and potential further impacts.

The weather in Southeast Texas is forecasted to remain unsettled. Early thunderstorms are expected to transition into a warm afternoon with highs nearing 90°F. Conditions will continue to be unstable over the coming days, with more rain and thunderstorms predicted through Wednesday, along with daytime highs projected in the mid to upper 80s.

Looking ahead, Thursday is anticipated to be muggy with scattered showers and thunderstorms, while isolated storm activity may occur on both Friday and Saturday, with temperatures again hovering around 90°F. The ongoing weather patterns suggest residents should remain aware of potential storm developments and impacts to power infrastructure.

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HERE Resources

Hurricane Beryl Strikes Houston: Community Faces Challenges
Houston Reflects on the Impact of the Derecho Storm
Severe Thunderstorms Expected in Southeast Texas
Houston Enhances Emergency Preparedness with New Weather Stations
Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for West and Southeast Texas
Severe Thunderstorms Cause Widespread Power Outages in Houston
Hazy Skies in Houston from West Texas Dust Storm

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