HOUSTON — Multiple storms moved through the Houston area on Saturday, generating about 56,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes between 3 a.m. and 7 p.m., according to CenterPoint Energy, and contributing to widespread power outages across Southeast Texas.
CenterPoint Energy said its monitoring system, which uses about 150 sensors in the Houston area, recorded the lightning activity as thunderstorms passed through the region. Meteorologist Anthony Yanez said the storms produced frequent lightning but noted that similar storm complexes occur in the area.
CenterPoint Energy reported that lightning contributed to about 190,000 power outages during the event. By 10 a.m. Sunday, utility crews restored power to all but about 700 customers.
Officials and meteorologists have previously identified Houston as an area with frequent lightning activity. Atmospheric scientists at Texas A&M University described the region in 2002 as the “lightning capital of the state” after analyzing 12 years of data, citing atmospheric conditions that support thunderstorm development.
The National Lightning Detection Network, used by NASA and the National Weather Service, has ranked Harris County among the top 10 lightning-prone counties in the United States.
The National Weather Service has reported multiple lightning-related deaths and injuries in Southeast Texas in recent years and has issued safety guidance that advises people to seek shelter in substantial buildings or hard-topped vehicles during thunderstorms and to avoid open areas and tall isolated objects.
