Texas power outage map: Severe storms leave nearly 800,000 homes, businesses without power
Editor's Note: There are still thousands without power in Houston, Texas and surrounding areas. Click here for an updated story on power outages and restorations efforts.
Severe storms hit southeastern Texas on Thursday, killing four people, downing trees and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes in the Houston area and surrounding areas.
Houston woke up to scenes of destruction on after severe storms with winds of up to 100 mph spewed debris across roads, and littered the ground downtown with broken glass. Officials confirmed that four people died in the storm.
"We're in recovery mode," Houston Mayor John Whitmire said.
In a news conference on Thursday evening, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña said two of the deaths were caused by falling trees, while a third person died in a crane accident.
At the news conference, Whitmire urged residents to continue to stay home amid the dangerous road conditions. Widespread power outages had also knocked out traffic lights across the city, posing traffic control hazards for morning commuters. Whitmire said officials were also "concerned" about the dangers of broken glass on roadways.
"Downtown is a mess. It's dangerous due to the glass and the lack of traffic lights," he said. "So stay at home. I can't emphasize that, repeat that enough."
"Please do not drive in Downtown Houston tonight, or for that matter, anywhere else in the region that sustained storm damage," the National Weather Service office that serves Houston and Galveston said on social media Thursday night. "Widespread debris, glass and electrical lines are in the streets. Follow local news media and emergency management officials recommendations."
Flights were grounded at Houston's two major airports because of the weather. Sustained winds topping 60 mph were recorded at Bush Intercontinental Airport, the Associated Press reports. The Houston Independent School District also canceled classes Friday at all of its schools.
Houston storm coverage: Houston in 'recovery mode' after storm kills 4, widespread power outages
Texas power outage map
There were over 772,000 power outages reported across the state as of 6 a.m. CT Friday morning, according to a USA TODAY power outage tracker.
There were over 414,000 outages reported in Harris County, by far the highest total in the state. Fort Bend County had over 29,000 reported outages while Chambers County had over 24,000 reported outages.
Texas severe weather watches and warnings
Friday's forecast sees a potential for more rain in the Houston and Galveston area, although the NWS says it is not expecting "anything near as robust as Thursday's line of storms."
Most of the rain is expected to fall along and south of the I-10 corridor, with an additional half inch to inch forecast south of I-10. Rain chances are expected to taper off going into the late afternoon and early evening hours, according to the NWS.
Contributing: Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Houston, Texas power outage map: Nearly 800,000 without power
