A suspected tornado heavily damaged a church and homes in Port Arthur, Southeast Texas, with no reported injuries. Torrential rains have flooded roads, leading to evacuations and closures, including Highway 69 south of Warren and Highway 96 in Kirbyville. Emergency crews have rescued several people, and multiple school districts are closed or delayed due to the severe weather.
Residents of Southeast Texas were captivated by 'mysterious' lights in the sky, prompting speculation about UFOs. However, the lights were actually from a SpaceX rocket launching Starlink satellites. The Falcon 9 rocket took off from Florida and flew over Texas, marking the 29th Falcon 9 launch of the year. SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, successfully deployed 23 second-generation Starlink internet satellites as part of the mission.
Strong to severe storms are forecasted for the Houston area on Monday, with the potential for two rounds of storms bringing a chance of severe weather, including large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted southeast Texas in a level 2 slight risk, with ongoing storms expected ahead of a cold front in the morning and a second round likely in the evening. Residents are advised to stay prepared and review tornado safety plans, with the best shelter options being underground or in an interior room without windows, while avoiding mobile homes and vehicles during a tornado.
Southeast Texas, including the greater Houston metro area, is at risk of severe storms and tornadoes on Thursday. While widespread damaging winds and large hail are not expected, a few tornadoes are possible. The National Weather Service has outlined a Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe storms in the region. The severe weather is expected to peak between lunchtime and the mid-to-late afternoon hours. Forecasters will face challenges in monitoring the storms due to the main National Weather Service Doppler radar being under repair. The inclement weather will shift northeastward by the evening.
Southeast Texas is under an Excessive Heat Watch from Friday morning to Saturday evening, with temperatures expected to rise and heat index values possibly exceeding 113 degrees. The National Weather Service urges people to take heat safety precautions, limit time outdoors, check on neighbors, and stay hydrated. Cooling centers are available at libraries and multi-service centers during normal business hours.
A heat advisory has been issued in Southeast Texas through 11am Friday for Feels Like temperatures up to 112 degrees, with an Excessive Heat Watch in effect from 11am Friday through 8 p.m. Saturday. Temperatures have hit triple digits and humidity is higher, resulting in a heat index ranging between 105-110 degrees. No rain is in the forecast for the next ten days, and record highs may be tied or set through Saturday. It is important to stay hydrated and take precautions in the heat.
Millions of people in southeastern Texas are at risk of flash flooding as heavy rains are expected to soak the region through Wednesday. The National Weather Service has issued a Level 3 out of 4 risk for excessive rainfall, with Houston in the bullseye for the worst of the potential flooding. Forecast models indicate as much as 3 to 7 inches of rain are possible through Wednesday, with some areas potentially getting as much as 10 inches. The main concern will be for areas where storms begin to train, leading to intense flash flooding.