HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Houston and southeast Texas have recently faced two significant wind events within an eight-week span: the May derecho and Hurricane Beryl. Both storms brought hurricane-force winds, resulting in extensive tree damage and prolonged power outages.
Following these two major events—particularly considering the strongest wind gust ever recorded at Bush Intercontinental Airport last year—residents may wonder if Houston is experiencing increasingly windy conditions. Meteorologist Elyse Smith explores this topic as part of the new initiative, Climate Ready.
On Monday, and its affiliated stations launched “Climate Ready,” a program aimed at educating local communities about climate change, its potential daily impacts, and practical solutions for adapting to challenges like extreme weather.
The recent focus on extreme weather includes Hurricane Beryl and the May derecho, both of which had severe wind impacts in southeast Texas. While daily wind conditions in Houston aren’t necessarily becoming more extreme, the intensity of wind gusts from severe storms or tropical systems may increase as the climate warms. Warmer air and water temperatures globally contribute to stronger storms, leading to greater impacts.
Moreover, Houston’s population growth means more people and infrastructure are in the path of these storms. According to data from the Houston-Galveston Area Council, over 2.6 million people moved to Houston between 1990 and 2015, increasing the potential for damage and disruption.
AccuWeather estimates that Hurricane Beryl caused between $28 and $32 billion in damage in the U.S. “We consider a wide range of direct and indirect impacts from the storm, including property damage, disruption to commerce, job losses, business impacts, supply chain issues, medical costs, emergency management, schedule disruptions, power outages, and food spoilage,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter.
In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, which left widespread damage and power outages, there has been increased scrutiny on Houston’s recovery efforts and the need for more resilient infrastructure. City and state leaders continue to discuss these issues weeks after the storm.
Interestingly, wind energy could also play a role in making Texas’s power grid more resilient, not just to wind storms but also to other extreme weather events like freezes or heat waves. The Prairie Switch Wind Project in Wharton County, which opened this past spring, contributes 160 megawatts of power to the grid. Texas led the nation in wind energy production in 2023, generating enough electricity to power over 11 million homes. Both wind and solar energy are expected to grow in Texas over the next decade.
This story is part of the Climate Ready series, a collaboration between News and Television Stations, focused on providing practical solutions to help families adapt to extreme weather and the challenges posed by climate change.
