Severe storms leave one dead, cause widespread flooding across Texas
Severe thunderstorms swept across Texas on Monday and Tuesday, May 5–6, 2025, triggering flash floods and widespread damage across the state. In Brenham, a 10-year-old girl who went missing after being swept away by floodwaters on Monday was found deceased the following day.
Uprooted tree in Smith County, Texas, after storms swept through the state on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Credit: Christina Drewry, Smith County Commissioner, Precinct 1
The Brenham Fire Department reported that a third-grade student who went missing after being swept away by floodwaters on Monday, May 5, was found dead the following day.
Flash floods were reported across the state through Tuesday, as thunderstorms associated with the omega block weather pattern over the U.S. swept through northern and northeastern Texas.
Floodwaters trapped vehicles in parts of the state, with two people being rescued on FM 2710 after getting trapped in their car on Tuesday.
Strong winds and large hail ranging from 2.5 to 10 cm (1 to 4 inches) were reported across the state on Tuesday. In Zapata County, the Sheriff’s Office said that golf ball- to softball-sized hail fell in San Ygnacio at approximately 02:23 local time (LT) on Wednesday.
Strong winds downed trees and power lines, causing widespread structural damage across Texas. More than 11 000 customers were without power as of early Wednesday morning, May 7.
A brick building and a home were destroyed in Leon County, while several structures sustained roof damage in the region. Trees fell on homes across the area, including in Frankston, where multiple houses suffered significant storm damage.
Lightning strikes were a major concern, igniting fires in structures across the state, including a house in Colleyville that burned down on Tuesday. In Smith County, a video captured a lightning strike hitting a courthouse under construction.
The storms caused travel disruptions across the state as many roads were either submerged by floodwaters or blocked by downed trees. Parts of the north I-45 were completely submerged by the water south of Madisonville. Meanwhile, in Anderson County, fallen trees blocked the road between Highway 19 and 155 on Tuesday.
Southern and southeastern Texas will remain under the threat of storms as they move out to the Gulf Coast, which will affect Louisiana and Mississippi through Wednesday.
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I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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