Houston storm leaves 7 dead and over 1M without power after hurricane-strength winds sweep through city

HOUSTON, TEXAS: At least seven people were killed across Houston on Thursday, May 16, as a destructive complex of storms with winds up to 100 mph tore through the area.

The event, which was called a derecho, triggered power outages that could stretch on for weeks amid soaring temperatures, according to Fox Weather. 

Seven dead amid complex storms in Houston 

The death toll rose to seven on the evening of Friday, May 17, up from the four fatalities reported earlier in the day, officials said.

According to Power Outage, during the peak of the storm's strong winds, over 900,000 homes and businesses in Harris County, Houston, lost power. Almost 600,000 houses and companies were still without power on Friday evening.

The extreme wind gusts blew out windows of high-rise buildings and caused transmission towers holding power lines to crumble.

The National Weather Service in Houston called the event a derecho, which produces destructive winds over hundreds of miles and impacts millions of people.

A single EF-1 tornado was recorded near Cypress, but according to NWS storm survey teams, most of the damage in the Houston region was caused by straight-line winds from strong thunderstorm downdrafts.

While significant straight-line winds in Downtown Houston peaked at 100 mph, survey teams assessed that thunderstorm gusts in Baytown reached 90–100 mph based on the level of damage.

The greatest gust ever recorded by a wind gauge was 78 mph in the Highlands neighborhood. Early on Friday afternoon, the inquiry into the strength of the Cypress tornado was still ongoing.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire earlier stated that at least four people were killed by the storm, and state resources were being requested to assist with the recovery. Officials reported that at least two were killed by falling trees, and a third was killed by a falling crane.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office reported an additional three fatalities on the evening of Friday, May 17, all considered to be indirectly or directly tied to the storm.

Governor Greg Abbott said, "Our hearts are with the families & loved one of those who lost their lives due to severe storms. Texas continues to deploy resources to impacted communities. I thank the first responders who are working tirelessly to protect their fellow Texans."

Houston's mayor advised residents to stay off the roads and remain at home due to widespread damage in the area.