HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Severe thunderstorms wreaked havoc on the Houston area on Thursday, shattering windows in high-rise buildings, toppling trees, and causing power outages for nearly a million homes and businesses.
In the immediate aftermath of the storm, the mayor’s office confirmed four fatalities attributable to the severe weather.
The ferocious storm left downtown streets strewn with debris, including shattered glass and building materials. Street lights and signs hung precariously from wires, while sections of insulation blown from buildings littered sidewalks.
Among the affected buildings was the downtown Hyatt hotel, where guests and staff sought shelter as rain and debris poured into the building’s renowned atrium. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries.
Another structure on Congress at Travis, housing a bar, suffered significant damage, losing an entire brick wall. Debris scattered across the parking lot, and exposed wiring hung from the damaged area. It remains uncertain if anyone was inside the building when the storm hit.
Chief Meteorologist Travis Herzog likened the storm to an intense hurricane striking the city within a brief timeframe. The sky darkened dramatically, resembling nighttime, well before sunset.
Following the cessation of the storm, Chief Forecaster David Tillman characterized the event as the most severe non-hurricane windstorm to hit Houston in at least 25 years.
