A fast-moving system of severe storms smashed across Southeast Texas on Wednesday evening, arriving from the northeast and spurring emergency alerts from the National Weather Service and Ready Harris, Harris County’s emergency alert and readiness system.
A severe storm warning sent out by NWS just before 7 p.m. CT featured a brow-raising figure: 70 mph wind gusts detected by radar in the vicinity of Harris and Galveston Counties, among others. “Pea-sized” hail was also listed as a threat for the region.
“Expect considerable tree damage,” the NWS alert stated. “Damage is likely to mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings.”
Impacted locations included Southeastern Pasadena, League City, southern Baytown, Galveston Island West End, Texas City, eastern Friendswood, La Porte, Alvin, Dickinson, La Marque, Santa Fe, Seabrook, Webster, Hitchcock, Beach City, Kemah, southeastern Clear Lake, Nassau Bay, Taylor Lake, Village, and El Lago.
Residents in these areas were asked to move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building during the system. The warning expired at 7:45 p.m. CT. As of this writing, damage from the system’s passage has yet to arise on social media. At 7:35 p.m. CT, NWS Houston issued an alert that severe storms featuring heavy rain and wind gusts of 40-60 mph continue to move northeast to southwest through Southeast Texas.
Severe thunderstorm warnings remain in place for Jamaica Beach, Hoskins, Freeport, Lake Jackson, Danbury and Liverpool, Texas until 8:15 p.m. CT.