Storms bring flooding, fallen trees and power outages across East Texas
Monday, May 27, 2025 — Tyler, Texas — Severe Memorial Day storms rolled through East Texas early this morning, leaving behind a trail of destruction, flooding, and downed trees across several counties. Residents woke to the aftermath of violent weather that disrupted communities and marred the holiday with dangerous conditions and property damage.
Gregg County heavily impacted
In Longview, widespread flooding submerged roads and neighborhoods. Corey Evans Jr. captured striking images of streets transformed into rivers. In Kilgore, Kathy Murphy and John Silos documented similar scenes, with waterlogged streets and storm debris scattered across town. The accumulation of rainfall overwhelmed drainage systems, causing rapid rise in water levels and making travel nearly impossible in low-lying areas.
Storm hits Henderson County’s Payne Springs
The Payne Springs Fire Rescue shared sobering images of damage in Henderson County, where trees were ripped from the ground and yards were inundated. Emergency crews responded quickly to block off affected areas and assist with cleanup, as residents began surveying the destruction.
Lake Cherokee shaken by high winds
A video recorded by Delany Bell from Lake Cherokee shows the intensity of the storm system as strong gusts of wind swept across the water, sending tree limbs flying and battering lakeside homes.
Smith County: trees split by lightning
In Smith County, especially around Whitehouse and Bullard, the storm’s electrical activity proved particularly dangerous. Jeremy Dinger documented a lightning strike that split a tree near FM 346 and Bullard’s Children Park, where another large tree was toppled. The thunderstorm’s powerful lightning bolts were heard and seen across the region during the early morning hours.
East Texas remains on alert as crews work to clear debris, assess damage, and restore power in multiple neighborhoods. The National Weather Service continues to monitor conditions as more storms could potentially develop later this week.
