News Summary

A powerful supercell thunderstorm struck the Austin metro area, resulting in significant damage and one confirmed fatality. Approximately 37,600 customers remain without power as crews work to restore services. The National Weather Service is assessing the damage, which includes downed trees, damaged roofs, and extensive hail impact. Wind speeds reached up to 85 mph, and the damage is considered severe but localized, different from a widespread derecho. City officials are mobilizing support for recovery efforts as the community assesses the storm’s aftermath.

Austin

A severe supercell thunderstorm wreaked havoc across the Austin metro area on Wednesday evening, resulting in widespread damage and one reported fatality. As of Thursday morning, approximately 37,600 Austin Energy customers were without power following extensive outages that initially affected over 72,500 customers at the storm’s peak.

The National Weather Service (NWS) plans to conduct assessments in the most impacted areas, marked in blue on a provided map, to better understand the extent of the damage.

Storm Impacts and Damage

The storm produced a significant 10-mile stretch of hail damage along with downed trees throughout the region. One individual was found dead during a water rescue operation, highlighting the storm’s severity. Crews from Austin Energy worked tirelessly overnight to repair damage, restore power, and assess the grid’s condition.

An NWS survey team identified a long-track microburst linked to the supercell, spanning from Central Austin, near Hyde Park, to southeastern areas near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The damage path from the microburst was estimated to be between one to two miles wide, with wind speeds reaching up to 85 mph. Notably, the damage was found to be consistent with strong winds rather than a tornado.

The torrential rain and wind led to significant destruction, including snapped and uprooted trees, damaged power lines, and roofs. A gas station canopy also collapsed due to the intense winds. Central Austin experienced severe hail and storm-related damage, especially near Shoal Creek Boulevard and Foster Lane.

Weather Conditions During the Storm

The supercell thunderstorm began moving into the Austin area around 6 p.m., coming from the northwest. In southern Williamson County, hail sizes were reported ranging from quarter to plum-sized. As the storm advanced into Travis County and crossed the city limits, reports of hail continued to emerge, with even pea-sized hail noted at Q2 Stadium during an MLS match between Austin FC and Real Salt Lake.

Wind speeds were recorded at 55 mph in areas north of the Colorado River, particularly around City Park and Pearce roads. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport was also significantly affected, experiencing winds close to 60 mph and a peak gust of 77 mph at roughly 7 p.m. Windows shattered at airport entrances due to the intensity of the winds, particularly near the security checkpoint.

Understanding Supercells and Derechos

Supercells are a unique type of thunderstorm characterized by their potential for severe weather, including large hail and damaging winds. While social media speculation suggested that the storm might be classified as a derecho—typically defined as a widespread storm system with straight-line winds impacting vast areas—NWS meteorologist Bob Fogarty confirmed that this storm did not meet the criteria for such classification as the damage was localized and not as extensive.

This storm was considerably less powerful than the derecho that struck Houston on May 16, 2024, which had winds ranging from 80 to 100 mph and led to extensive damage across a much larger area.

Community Response and Recovery

In the aftermath, city officials and emergency services have mobilized to assist affected residents and facilitate recovery efforts. The storm’s impact serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of severe weather and the importance of community preparedness in the face of such events.

As assessments continue, the NWS will update the public on further findings and recommendations for residents dealing with the aftermath of this severe thunderstorm.

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Additional Resources

• KVUE News
• Wikipedia: Supercell
• Austin American-Statesman
• Google Search: Austin Thunderstorm 2025
• KXAN News
• Google Scholar: Microburst Weather Event
• CBS Austin
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Thunderstorm
• Houston Chronicle
• Google News: Austin Storm Damage 2025

Author: STAFF HERE AUSTIN WRITER

AUSTIN STAFF WRITER The AUSTIN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAustinTX.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Austin, Travis County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as SXSW, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, and the Austin Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and Visit Austin, plus leading businesses in technology, automotive, and retail that power the local economy such as Dell Technologies, Tesla, and Apple. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.