Severe thunderstorms shake Central Texas Wednesday evening
Heavy rain and hail pounded Central Texas on Wednesday evening, as severe thunderstorms swept through Austin and surrounding areas. The National Weather Service had issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for all metro counties around Austin and the Hill Country, warning of strong storm development.
Residents across the region shared dramatic images and videos of the weather, capturing hailstorms, downpours, and damage left behind.
Hailfall hits multiple locations
Hail was reported in a wide area, including Cedar Park, Leander, and Windsor Park. In Burnet County, between Burnet and Bertram, and three miles south of Bertram, large hailstones were seen littering roads and yards. Front lawns were blanketed in ice pellets, as shown in photos from local residents.
A particularly vivid video, taken by Casey Legg, showed hailstones plopping into a backyard pool in Leander, underlining the intensity of the storm.
Storms cause tree damage across neighborhoods
Alongside the hail, the storms brought down trees and branches across multiple neighborhoods. In Crestview, a tree was reported down in a resident’s yard. At the intersection of McNeil Drive and Highway 620, another tree snapped. Damage was also seen on Tillery Street, where a large branch split, and at 16th Street and Ulit Avenue, where another tree collapsed under the storm’s pressure.
Thunderstorm watch extended and more storms expected
Meteorologist Nick Bannin from KXAN announced that the Severe Thunderstorm Watch would stay active until 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, with more storms likely into Thursday evening. Conditions are expected to remain unstable, increasing the potential for additional severe weather later this week.
