Texas Weather: Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth Pounded By Powerful Storms

HOUSTON — Heavy rain and powerful winds that spawned several tornadoes have swept across Texas, forcing drivers to abandon cars on flooded roads but not dropping enough water to make up for the state's historic drought.

Storms pounded Dallas and Fort Worth overnight. At dawn Wednesday, rescue workers checked to make sure people weren't stuck in cars stranded in windshield-high water.

Record rainfall drenched the Austin area, which last summer suffered the most devastating wildfires in Texas history.

The National Weather Service says tornadoes touched down near Austin, San Antonio and Houston, damaging homes and businesses. No injuries were reported.

The downpour was celebrated in drought-stricken Washington County near Houston. Emergency management coordinator Robert Smith says the rural area's ranches finally have water and, "I think the cows are doing a jig."

Comments

[Christian Burgess]

06:47 PM on 01/28/2012

Severe weather events such as these storms can trigger distress- such as overwhelming feelings of anxiety -especially for anyone who has struggled to recover from past disasters; who may be isolated for some reason; or who may be suffering from depression or other mental health issues. FYI, the Disaster Distress Helpline is a new crisis hotline dedicated to providing support and counseling to those in need before, during and after disasters. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text 'talkwithus' to 66746, 24/7, year-round. You are not alone!

[Charles Queen]

05:06 PM on 01/26/2012

I recently returned last monday from a trip to my home state og Michigan to attend my mothers funeral.The weather was right on spot for MI when I ariived there,cold and overnight 304 iches of snow in the lower part of the state and extremely cold,However this has not been the norm for the better part of the winter there this year or the year before etc and also here in KY where I live now since 91.Spring and summer weather in january and prior to jan as well.Tornado's,very bad abd damaging thunderstorms etc.Now I know all about the normal cycles in which the climates change radically over a very long period of time but it's been acelerated at blinding speed.This is because of the teribleimpact that we have imposed on natures normal way of functioning.There are of course many that don't buy into the human impact but all their doing is to see things wearing blinders.It is in fact our fault tht the weathe and or climate has changed so radically and so fast and will continue to get ever worse.We have the answer to many of these problems but re not using any of them

[Ray Wigton]

11:42 AM on 01/26/2012

God just can't please Texas. First its too dry and then its too wet! :)

[mglovert]

08:20 PM on 01/25/2012

Between about 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24th, San Antonio had wave after wave of booming thunder, lightening, wind and rain. Hard to sleep with all that going on right outside ones window. Loved it.

[getoffmedz]

03:58 PM on 01/25/2012

Unusually intense electrical storms for the winter north of Dallas.

We really need the rain.