Severe storms sweep across Houston before Thanksgiving, creating a dramatic night of weather.
Houston's volatile Monday was fashioned by warm Gulf air, a strong cold front, and a city on alert until serene, sunny Christmas weather came.
Houston seemed to be holding its breath by the end of Monday morning. The air was heavy and warm, the type that clings to your skin and warns you that something big is about to happen far away. Flags on the roads broke in the increasing air, and clouds floated overhead in erratic layers. Most Houstonians assumed it was just another steamy day—until the notifications started coming in.
For days, meteorologists had been hinting at it: a wall of Gulf moisture that had stubbornly settled over Southeast Texas was being pushed against by a powerful cold front that was moving into the area. The prediction had changed from "scattered showers" to a full-fledged severe weather alert by the time commuters were leaving for lunch. They warned that the storms would not just pass by; instead, they would intensify, get stronger, and rush into the city with a fury capable of snapping tree branches, denting automobiles with hail, and even igniting a lone tornado.
The warnings were more severe for families ending school pick-ups or workers starting late shifts. A tornado watch was issued for Harris, Montgomery, Waller, Fort Bend, and other nearby counties. That unpleasant, buzzing sensation—half instinct, half experience—started to set in. Houston is no stranger to storms. Houston respects storms.
Throughout the afternoon, the air over the city seemed weirdly electrified. Storms began to form in the northwest, at the metro area's edges—small at first, then rising into towering, black columns. Early in the evening, radar scans began to show red and purple hues, indicating that the storms were forming into a line that might produce hail and destructive winds, as forecasters had warned.
Long before it started to rain, several communities heard the first rumbles—deep, rolling thunder that reverberated through parking garages and cul-de-sacs. In others, it seemed as though a curtain had fallen, causing the sky to suddenly darken. The wind gusts followed, knocking against the windows and shaking loose placards. People stopped what they were doing to check the most recent notifications, listening for the anxious voice of a local meteorologist or the tone of a weather app.
Then the storms struck.
Heavy rain came in like a wave, hammering roofs and making roadways slippery in minutes. Sharp white bursts of lightning broke overhead, illuminating the sky like concert camera flashes. Strong gusts of wind were seen in certain parts of the metro region, strong enough to topple patio furniture or bring down tree limbs. Even while not everyone felt the full brunt of the threat, it was palpable throughout. A few cells displayed the type of rotation that worries forecasts, the kind that drives individuals to internal passageways and closets "just in case."
As the storms moved slowly southeast, airports around Houston imposed delays. Travelers watched the weather sweep in through large, rain-streaked windows as they stared up from terminals illuminated by departure boards. Brake lights bounced off the pavement as cars drove through torrents of rain and intermittent lightning strikes.
However, as predicted, the storms passed quickly. The line broke apart around midnight and meandered toward the shore, leaving behind peaceful homes and the gentle sound of water draining from driveways and walkways. The worst has past.
And suddenly, almost as if in apology, Houston's weather prepared to present a gift.
By Tuesday night, a heavier surge of cold, dry air would rush across the city, removing the humidity and cloudy haze. Thanksgiving Day was supposed to be all Houstonians could hope for: sunshine, crisp morning air, and highs in the 60s. It was the type of day that was ideal for cooking, socializing, strolling, or just taking in the peace that seemed well-deserved.
Even though the storms were powerful, they would be forgotten as soon as the city entered the festive season. Houston was finally able to relax after a difficult Monday, and it was grateful for the calm weather ahead as well as the fortitude that always gets it through the stormy skies of late November.
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