At least four people have been killed after severe thunderstorms hit southeastern Texas for the second time this month.
The storms blew out windows in high-rise buildings, downed trees and knocked out power to nearly 900,000 homes and businesses in the Houston area.
Mary Benton, chief of communications and senior adviser to the mayor, confirmed the four deaths.
Flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for multiple counties, with damaging winds and even tornadoes possible into the evening, Houston’s National Weather Service (NWS) office said.
“Take shelter now if you’re in the path of this storm. Head to the lowest floor!” the NWS office said on social media.
Streets were flooded, and trees and power lines were down across the region.
City officials urged residents to stay off the roads as many were impassable and traffic lights were out.
Flights were grounded at Houston’s two major airports because of the weather.
Sustained winds topping 60 mph were recorded at Bush Intercontinental Airport.
More than 870,000 customers were without electricity in and around Harris County, which contains Houston, according to poweroutage.us.
Heavy storms slammed the region during the first week of May, leading to numerous high-water rescues, including some from the rooftops of flooded homes.