Hundreds of thousands without power after Texas storms

Severe thunderstorms in Texas have left nearly 600,000 customers without electricity. The storms brought hurricane-force wind gusts up to 77 mph and golf ball-sized hail, compounding the impact of earlier severe weather that killed at least 24 people across five states, including Texas. 

The extreme weather, which included tornado warnings in Dallas and surrounding areas, caused significant damage such as flooding, downed trees, and power lines. Dallas County declared a disaster as officials assessed the damage. At the peak of the outages, over 1,070,000 customers were without power, with Dallas County experiencing nearly a third of these outages. Authorities warned that power restoration could take several days and urged residents to check on their neighbours.

Additionally, the severe weather caused significant disruptions, including delayed or cancelled flights out of Dallas and the temporary closure of the Dallas Zoo due to damage. Fires, possibly sparked by lightning or power surges, destroyed several homes and a historic church in Royse City. Hurricane-force winds were also reported in Houston. The National Weather Service warned of continued severe thunderstorm risks and potential flash flooding in northern and central Texas and parts of southern Oklahoma.