Central Texas storms have unleashed havoc, tearing down trees, flipping food trucks, and leaving thousands without power, as reported by CBS Austin. An Austin resident captured the immediate aftermath, revealing how the fierce weather ripped trees from the ground and scattered debris across roads. Austin Energy confirmed peak outages at 8:43 a.m., affecting 19,217 customers. They stated, "Lightning strikes and high winds have impacted our poles and wires and our crews are on scene working to restore power as quickly and safely as possible."
Adding to the weather chaos, a string of tornadoes barreled through five states, with a confirmed fatality in Holdenville, Oklahoma, according to emergency officials. A tornado watch has been extended into the late evening for parts of six states, ranging from Texas to Iowa. ABC News reported that in Iowa alone, four people were injured, and approximately 120 structures were damaged after the severe weather barrage hit Pottawattamie County, prompting local declarations of a state of emergency.
The severe weather system brought not merely tornadoes but also extensive hail and wind damage across the affected regions. Nebraska's Douglas County Emergency Management highlighted the miraculous absence of fatalities amid extensive property damage as officials and residents grappled with the aftermath of what preliminary information suggests were EF-2 and EF-3 tornadoes. Governor Jim Pillen of Nebraska called on citizens to maintain vigilance through Saturday evening as the storm threat persisted.
As if the tornadoes weren't enough, the region braces itself for a flood risk. A flood watch is in effect for eight states with the potential for dangerous flash flooding. "Confidence continues to be high in a major flash flood event unfolding for portions of east-central Oklahoma," said the Weather Prediction Center in a statement procured by ABC News. They also cautioned about the significant rainfall, which may prompt a "high risk" for excessive rainfall—the most severe level of threat associated with life-threatening flood events.
With the storm system continuing its rampage into the weekend, the full extent of the damage is still unfolding. The National Weather Service will be deploying teams to conduct damage surveys, aiming to assess the full impact of the storms. Residents across Central Texas to Iowa are urged to stay alert and aware of the potential for continued severe weather, including damaging winds, hail, and the possibility of tornadoes.
