Storms cause new damage in Oklahoma and Kansas, power mostly restored in Houston

Fast-moving storms with strong winds, large hail, and apparent tornadoes swept through Oklahoma and Kansas, causing damage to homes and blocking roads with fallen trees and power lines. Meanwhile, Houston continued to make progress in recovering from last week’s deadly storms.

State emergency officials reported nearly 20 homes damaged in western Oklahoma’s Custer County, with two people injured in Butler. Damage to a nursing home was also reported in the town of Hydro.

The storms, which started Sunday afternoon and lasted through the night, brought wind gusts well over 60 mph to many areas as they moved eastward. In central Kansas, a 100 mph wind gust was reported at the airport in Salina, according to the National Weather Service.

Residents like Jacob Schwein of Russell, Kansas, described witnessing the destructive power of the storms, with funnel clouds damaging homes and structures. Overturned semitrailers were reported in Newton and Sedgwick counties.

Schools were canceled in several communities to allow for cleanup, as more storms were forecasted for later in the day. The National Weather Service warned of an enhanced risk of severe storms late Monday night into early Tuesday in parts of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska, with the potential for large hail, strong gusts, and tornadoes.

Parts of Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota were also at risk of flooding due to heavy rain swelling rivers and creeks, the weather service cautioned.

Houston residents affected by last week’s deadly storms received some positive news, as power was restored to a majority of those who had been left without electricity. The storms had left at least seven people dead and caused significant damage in the area.

Despite the progress in power restoration, over 209,000 homes and businesses in Texas remained without electricity on Monday, with the majority in the Houston area. Louisiana was also affected by strong winds and a suspected tornado, leaving over 2,400 customers without power.

Efforts were made to assist residents without power, with distribution sites providing food, water, and ice. Cooling centers were set up in buses to help residents cope with the hot and humid weather.

The weather service advised Houston-area residents to expect sunny, hot, and humid days ahead, with temperatures reaching about 90 degrees and heat indexes possibly hitting 102 degrees by midweek.