On Saturday morning, the Houston National Weather Service said power outages could extend for days or weeks due to damaged transmission lines. "We hope that the power outages are resolved quickly for all of you," the office said. "Stay safe, y'all."
In an advisory, AccuWeather's preliminary estimate from the Texas windstorm placed total damage and economic loss in the Houston metropolitan at more than $5 billion. That's similar to effects of historic hurricanes such as Ike, in 2008, and Alicia, in 1983.
On Friday, President Joe Biden issued a disaster declaration for parts of Texas surrounding the Houston area due to severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding. Federal funding is intended to supplement local recovery efforts in cleaning the wreckage.
"Please use safety precautions when using generators," the Houston National Weather Service office posted to social media Friday. "Also, with high temperatures around 90° this weekend, know the symptoms of heat exhaustion/stroke. Don't overdo yourself during the cleanup process."
A home is severely damaged by a fallen tree after heavy winds and rains ripped through the region on May 17, 2024 in Houston. Logan Riely, Getty Images
Weekend forecast: Flooding risk, high temperatures
On Saturday, the Florida Panhandle and parts of southern Georgia and Alabama will see showers and thunderstorms along the Gulf of Mexico, the NWS Weather Prediction Center said in a short-range forecast discussion early Saturday . Forecasters have warned of flash floods in the Gulf Coast region, due to saturated soil.
Storm chances will ease overnight Saturday and into Sunday, as the northern part of the frontal system pushes eastward into the Atlantic Ocean, the forecast said.
Over the weekend, scorching temperatures into the 90s will hit South Florida, federal forecasters said. When accounting for humidity, heat indices could reach close to 110, prompting a heat advisory throughout South Florida on Saturday .
Southern Texas is expected to see heat reach the mid-100s and heat indices upwards of 110 degrees near Corpus Christi on Tuesday . Summer-like heat will expand to the Central Plains and into the Midwest, forecasters said.
Meanwhile, portions of the Central Plains face an enhanced risk for severe weather including large hail, damaging gusts and a few tornadoes, according to the federal Storm Prediction Center. Local heavy rainfall could also be possible, particularly from the Central Plains northeastward into the Upper Mississippi River Valley.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0