HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Strong thunderstorms passed over the Houston area on Sunday afternoon and left behind some damage in northwest Harris County.<\/p>\n
Video captured by ABC13 Storm Tracker Jaime Garcia showed a large branch downed in a residential neighborhood near Jersey Village, which was under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning at around 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
The warning, issued by the National Weather Service, reported that 60-mile-per-hour wind gusts and quarter-sized hail were possible in the area at the time.<\/p>\n
The storm lasted less than an hour but prompted hours of cleanup as homeowners cleared fallen branches and other storm damage from their properties.<\/p>\n
Residents described a sudden burst of heavy rain, hail, and strong winds that caught many off guard.<\/p>\n
“I was in the bathroom at the time, and I heard hail hitting the window,” resident Marie Prysukha said. “I immediately told my grandson, ‘Let’s get all these blinds shut because we have paper-thin windows.'”<\/p>\n
Another resident, Maggie Mottu, said she sought shelter after hail began falling.<\/p>\n
“It was hailing, so we stopped for shelter at the gas station on West and Eldridge,” she said.<\/p>\n
The storm damaged fences, snapped large tree limbs, and even knocked part of a chimney cap from a home. Some residents said rising water and powerful winds made for a frightening experience.<\/p>\n
“It was nerve-wracking,” resident Jim Griffin said. “When it came down, the water came rushing up my patio. It scared me to death.”<\/p>\n
13 Alert Radar showed the severe thunderstorm that passed over the area, with wind speeds estimated to be between 40 and 50 miles per hour.<\/p>\n
As the weather cleared, neighbors helped one another remove debris.<\/p>\n
“We had a lot of debris, and luckily, a lot of neighbors helped me pick stuff up,” Griffin said. “But it was more of a nuisance than anything else.”<\/p>\n
Charmion Brooks said she and her husband remained inside their parked vehicle in their driveway until the storm passed.<\/p>\n
“Our car was shaking back and forth,” Brooks said. “I was scared.”<\/p>\n
Despite the damage, residents said they were relieved no one was seriously hurt, and no homes appeared to suffer catastrophic damage.<\/p>\n