Latest news with #Oncor
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Dallas Weather: Deadly flooding hits Dallas, unsettled stormy week ahead
The Brief North Texas experienced deadly flooding in Dallas and significant storm damage across the region Tuesday night, including power outages and property destruction. A man died after his truck became submerged in rapidly rising floodwaters under an Interstate 635 bridge, while a second driver managed to swim to safety. After a brief break Wednesday, more showers and storms, including potential for heavy rain and severe weather, are expected to return later this week and continue into the weekend. DALLAS - After Tuesday night's severe storms and flooding, North Texas will see a briefly quieter day, but showers and storm chances are still possible throughout the week. North Texans experienced significant damage from the overnight storms, including deadly flooding in north Dallas where high water rose rapidly. Local perspective A man died after his truck was trapped in flash flooding under I-635 in north Dallas Tuesday night. Dallas officials reported multiple vehicles were stuck in high water, but one driver was able to swim to safety while the other driver died. Flood conditions were so dangerous at one point that water rescue teams had to wait before conducting their search and rescue efforts. Strong storms in Plano dumped more than 2 inches of rain in a short period overnight. Lightning strikes and heavy rain knocked out some power sources, leaving many without power overnight. Around 1 a.m. Wednesday, more than 25,000 residents across Dallas-Fort Worth were without electricity. What we know The complex of storms has moved out, and a weak cold front is moving in this morning. A few isolated showers may still be possible in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to the east until cooler air moves in, after which it should be quieter. Far eastern areas could still see possible showers. Clouds are expected to break Wednesday evening, and temperatures will rebound into the low 80s. These are relatively cool temperatures for early June. Strong winds in Denton County Tuesday night tore roofs off businesses and pulled down power lines. A metal roof from one business blew approximately 400 feet away. There are no reports of injuries in this area, but many are still without power. Oncor crews are working to repair power lines, though it is unclear how long repairs will take. Many vehicles in parts of Krum, Texas, also sustained damage. What's next The next batch of storms will impact West Texas Wednesday night and could potentially clip northwest counties Thursday morning. Storm chances will be low for Dallas-Fort Worth. Muggy air will return Thursday night and into Friday. Clouds will keep temperatures in the 80s on Thursday. Extra sunshine will push temperatures back into the 90s on Friday, with a heat index near 100. Storm complexes are possible later this week, including early Saturday morning. A stronger disturbance is also possible Saturday night into Sunday morning, bringing higher coverage of heavy rain, lightning, and severe wind risks. Weekend temperatures are expected to be in the low 90s. What you can do The National Weather Service advises against walking or driving into high water. They caution against driving through flooded roadways, as the condition of the road beneath the water is unknown. Their safety slogan is: "Turn around, don't drown." What we don't know The identity of the man who died has not yet been released by the medical examiner's office. Authorities have also not released information on how long the vehicles were stuck or what led the drivers into the floodwaters. The Source Information in this article comes from the National Weather Service, meteorologist Evan Andrews, and Dallas city officials.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oncor hosts Sweetwater open house on transmission line issues
SWEETWATER, Texas () – Hundreds of residents from the Big Country gathered in Sweetwater on Tuesday for the second of three open house events hosted by Oncor. The purpose of these events is to address questions and assess community concerns regarding a proposed large-scale transmission line that is planned for construction across an eight-county area of the state. While multiple routes for the transmission line have been proposed, one option would pass directly through the heart of the Big Country. This project dates back to 2023, when Governor Abbott signed Texas House Bill 5066. The bill was designed to address the state's increasing energy demands, with a specific focus on expanding the reliable transmission of electricity to areas expected to require more power in the coming years. HB 5066 requires the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to develop a 'Reliability Plan for regions experiencing rapid electrical load growth.' The bill specifically identifies the Permian Basin as one of the areas that needs such a reliability plan. ERCOT submitted the plan for the Permian Basin on July 25, 2024, and it was subsequently approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). MAP: Large transmission line could cut through Big Country, public meetings taking place This project is larger than those previously seen in the state, and PUCT calls its approval a 'landmark decision'. 'It would see the 'Dinosaur' switch near Glen Rose connected to the 'Longshore' switch just west of Forsan through the use of 'extra high voltage' transmission lines. It would be the first of its kind to be built in the ERCOT region. According to Oncor, the 765 kilovolt (kV) transmission lines would run approximately 235-270 miles long, depending on the route chosen. In response to the question of why extra high-voltage lines are used over others, PUCT Chairman Thomas Gleeson stated in a news release on April 24, 'Extra high-voltage lines are more efficient and strengthen reliability. Because each line can carry more power, fewer lines are necessary to serve the needs of the Permian Basin Region, meaning less disruption to Texas landowners, natural habitats, and landscapes. Our priority now is ensuring utilities execute these projects quickly and at the lowest possible cost to Texas consumers.' Although the use of larger capacity power lines would take up less overall space, residents like Randyll and Gail Baker of Tuscola, whose home is located on property that a potential line would pass through, strongly oppose the construction of such large towers in their neighborhood. 'The people that moved out to Tuscola area wanted it for that good family living. To have that size of a tower come through a neighborhood, that's a concern,' said Gail. 'It would definitely be, in our view. I built our house facing the northeast for the view of Cedar Gap, and it's gonna go right through there,' Randyll added. The Bakers shared their concerns with many online. Some residents of Buffalo Gap have organized to oppose the route, which would affect the area's natural beauty. 'It's not gonna be a single little line. It'll be a row of towers and clearing out a lot of land. And Buffalo Gap's a beautiful area, so it would be a shame if they routed it through some of the prettier areas,' said Tuscola resident Mark Burkett. But concerns aren't purely visual. Both the Bakers and Burkett voice displeasure with the potential impact on their property value if the line is constructed along the Buffalo Gap route. 'Our big concerns are: how is that gonna impact the value of our property? I assume there will be compensation, but I also doubt the compensation would compensate you adequately for the loss of value,' Burkett said KTAB/KRBC discussed these concerns with Oncor Senior Media Relations Specialist Roxana Rubio, who says PUCT will consider them all. The purpose of the open house events is to gather community input to guide PUCT's decision. 'We really appreciate hearing from our customers… Any time that we build a new transmission, a new transmission line, no matter the voltage, we follow a very thorough process. Part of that process is to make sure that we're engaging with the local communities,' said Rubio. At the Sweetwater event, residents not only had their questions answered but also filled out forms to detail their concerns and express their feelings about the proposed routes. 'So that information will be submitted to the PUCT, and the potential routes will ultimately be submitted to the PUCT, who will have their own community input before determining which route we should begin construction on,' Rubio said. The next Oncor open house is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4. It will be held in Stephenville at the Cross Timbers Legacy Center, 830 S. Graham Avenue, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The event is open to the public. The Oncor website has more information on the 'Dinosaur-Longshore' project and downloadable forms for public participation and outreach. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Over 150,000 Americans without power in the South
Over 150,000 Americans were still in the dark after the Memorial Day weekend as severe storms knocked out power in the South. In Texas alone, there were more than 125,000 people without power Tuesday morning, mainly in the Houston area. Power issues also struck Louisiana and Mississippi over the weekend, leaving several thousand homes still without power after the long weekend. In Houston, severe thunderstorms and heavy rain battered the area, disrupting power throughout southeast Texas. As many as 200,000 Texans lost electricity during the storm, with the majority still waiting for local power companies to repair the damage. In Louisiana, over 100,000 spent the Memorial Day weekend in the dark after electrical company Entergy Louisiana intentionally turned off power to many customers in the New Orleans area Sunday afternoon. More severe thunderstorms are still in the forecast for southern Texas on Tuesday, with AccuWeather predicting hail, flash flooding and possible tornadoes moving throughout the day. The worst storms will likely hit the Austin and San Antonio areas Tuesday night, about 200 miles west of Houston. At the same time, severe storms are still in the forecast for both Louisiana and Mississippi, where power issues are still being reported. Texas power company Oncor posted on X that, 'Teams remain focused on restoring power as quickly and safely as possible to all who can safely receive power.' Oncor services more than 13 million people in Texas. They're asking anyone who sees a downed power line due to the storm to keep family and pets away from it and contact 911 immediately.
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Houston severe storms leave over 180,000 without electricity: Centerpoint, Entergy power outage tracker, maps
Houston has been hit by numerous power outages due to strong and severe storms. On Memorial Day, storms deliver hail, torrential rain, and devastating wind gusts to northern Texas, leaving 60,000 people without electricity. The Southern Plains saw severe thunderstorms on Monday, and at least six states were at risk of flooding and damaging winds, according to National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters. According to a map, over 56,000 individuals, including over 34,000 Oncor customers, were without power in Texas as of Monday at 11:15 a.m. ET. The majority of outages occurred in eastern Texas, specifically in the counties of Houston, Jasper, San Augustine, Rusk, and Henderson. NWS meteorologists have issued flash flood warnings and flood watches throughout the region. There were also strong thunderstorms warnings earlier Monday morning. 'Multiple rounds of thunderstorms are forecast to impact portions of the Southern Plains, Mid-South, and Tennessee Valley through Memorial Day,' NWS stated on Monday. 'Severe thunderstorms may produce large hail, severe wind gusts, and a few tornadoes. Excessive rainfall is also likely and may result in scattered to numerous instances of flash flooding.' NWS Houston announced on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday that two rounds of thunderstorms were predicted to reach the Houston forecast region on Monday. It struck in the Piney Woods area in the first round. Later on Monday evening, the second round of storms is predicted. After strong storms struck the area earlier this weekend, Oncor stated on X that its personnel worked through the night to recover power. Also Read: Watch: Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano erupts again, unleashing lava fountain over 1,000 feet, officials warn of health risk Over 180,000 people remained without electricity at one point on Tuesday morning. Centerpoint Energy reports that 143,777 consumers were without power at 2:10 am. As of 2:10 a.m., 29,603 people were without power, according to Entergy. Centerpoint or Energy should be contacted if you see a downed power line and you should also avoid the area. Here's how to check status of your location. To see the Entergy outage map, click this link. To report an outage at your house, click this link. To report a power loss at your residence or to access the Centerpoint Energy outage map, click here. On Tuesday, there will be thunderstorms in Houston in the early morning. With rains, thunderstorms, and highs in the mid- to upper-80s, the erratic trend persists into Wednesday. Thursday appears to be a humid day with sporadic showers and thunderstorms. Highs of about 90 degrees are expected on Friday and Saturday, along with sporadic showers and thunderstorms.
Newsweek
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
More Than 50,000 Without Power in Texas Amid Severe Memorial Day Storms
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Nearly 60,000 people are without power in northeastern Texas on Memorial Day as severe storms bring damaging wind gusts, heavy downpours and hail to the region. Newsweek reached out to Oncor, Texas' largest energy provider, by email for comment. Why It Matters Severe thunderstorms are hitting the Southern Plains on Monday, with National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists warning of damaging winds and floods across at least six states. The severe weather is expected to impact Memorial Day celebrations, and it also has disrupted power service to thousands. A vehicle drives through heavy rain on a highway during Hurricane Beryl on July 8, 2024, in Houston, Texas. A vehicle drives through heavy rain on a highway during Hurricane Beryl on July 8, 2024, in Houston, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty What To Know As of Monday at 11:15 a.m. ET, more than 56,000 people were without power in Texas, including more than 34,000 Oncor customers, according to a map. Most outages were concentrated in eastern Texas, including Houston, Jasper, San Augustine, Rusk and Henderson counties. NWS meteorologists have issued flood watches and flash flood warnings across the area. Earlier Monday morning, severe thunderstorm warnings also were in place. "Multiple rounds of thunderstorms are forecast to impact portions of the Southern Plains, Mid-South, and Tennessee Valley through Memorial Day," an NWS forecast on Monday morning said. "Severe thunderstorms may produce large hail, severe wind gusts, and a few tornadoes. Excessive rainfall is also likely and may result in scattered to numerous instances of flash flooding." Two rounds of thunderstorms were expected to hit the Houston forecast area on Monday, NWS Houston posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday morning. The first round hit in the Piney Woods region. The second round of storms is expected later Monday night. This morning, Oncor posted on X, saying its crews worked through the night to restore power after severe storms hit the region earlier this weekend. What People Are Saying Oncor in a Memorial Day weather alert on its website: "Oncor is continuing to monitor and respond to the severe storm system moving through our service area. As soon as weather conditions allowed, Oncor teams began working to assess damages, repair equipment and restore power as quickly and safely as possible. Flooding may cause delays and access challenges for field resources. We appreciate our customers' patience as these efforts continue around the clock." AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill in a report: "Repetitive rounds of rain will continue across the southern Plains and Ozarks through Memorial Day, resulting in additional or worsening flooding. Although northwestern Arkansas and northern Texas has not experienced the heaviest rain thus far, we expect pockets of heavy rain to expand across these areas through Monday." What Happens Next A second round of storms will hit Texas on Monday night. Most flood watches will expire by Tuesday morning as the heavy downpours move out of the region.
