At least four people died Thursday after an “exceptionally” strong storm hit Houston, according to Mayor John Whitmire.
Preliminary investigations indicate falling trees caused two deaths and a fallen crane caused one, according to Houston Police Chief Samuel Pena.
A damaged building is shown in the aftermath of a severe thunderstorm that passed through downtown, May 16, 2024, in Houston.
David J. Phillip/AP
Blown out windows of a downtown high-rise building are shown in the aftermath of a severe thunderstorm May 17, 2024, in Houston.
David J. Phillip/AP
Urging residents to stay home, Whitmire said the city was in “recovery mode” and schools will be closed in the Houston area on Friday.
More than 788,000 customers are without power in Texas on Friday morning.
A car sits under fallen bricks in the aftermath of a severe thunderstorm May 17, 2024, in Houston.
David J. Phillip/AP
Rapper Trae tha Truth, in yellow, cuts fallen tree limbs on top of a car in the aftermath of a severe thunderstorm that passed through downtown, May 16, 2024, in Houston.
David J. Phillip/AP
A rare “high risk” warning for flash flooding was issued in Texas and Louisiana early Thursday as the states braced for up to 9 inches of rain in 24 hours.
“The high risk area has seen over 600% of their normal rainfall for the past two weeks alone,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned, and the flash flooding could be life-threatening.
“High risk” days account for just 4% of days, but they are responsible for more than one-third of flooding deaths, according to the Weather Prediction Center.
On Friday morning, the line of storms will continue to push east, bringing a threat of flooding to Louisiana, southern Mississippi and Alabama.
By Friday afternoon and evening, another round of severe storms will develop from New Orleans to Birmingham.
Source Agencies
