A strong summer storm with gusts of up to 97 mph swept through the Houston region Wednesday night, knocking down trees and causing power outages for more than 370,000 CenterPoint Energy customers.
CenterPoint had restored service to many customers by the next day. But more than 160,000 were still without power early Thursday morning. The utility reported its crews were responding to 1,500 active outages.
“Severe weather has caused widespread outages,” CenterPoint Energy warned customers on its Twitter account. The utility told customers to report downed power lines by calling 713-207-2222, and that those with smart meters don’t need to report an outage.
Broken tree due to an overnight storm that left the area of Greenspoint damaged and its residents without electricity Thursday.(Marie D. De Jesús / Houston Landing) 
Two people observe the damage to a mobile home from a fallen tree in Greenspoint after an overnight storm moved through the area, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Houston. (Marie D. De Jesús / Houston Landing) 
A fallen pole rests on the ground by West Greens Road after a storm moved through the area overnight leaving debris scattered in Greenspoint on Thursday. (Marie D. De Jesús / Houston Landing) 
An electric generator provides electricity to a mobile home in Greenspoint after an overnight storm damaged the area, leaving residents without power Thursday. (Marie D. De Jesús / Houston Landing) 
Broken tree due to an overnight storm that left the area of Greenspoint damaged and its residents without electricity. (Marie D. De Jesús / Houston Landing) 
A fallen tree blocks West Greens Road after a storm left the area of Greenspoint damaged and its residents without electricity Thursday. (Marie D. De Jesús / Houston Landing) 
Traffic lights are without power on the Greens Parkway and W Greens Road intersection after an overnight storm affected the Greenspoint area leaving some residents without electricity, Thursday. (Marie D. De Jesús / Houston Landing)
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CenterPoint said crews had worked overnight to restore power to as many customers “as safely possible.”
“Damage assessment & repairs will continue this morning,” the utility tweeted Thursday morning. “Last night’s severe weather left fallen trees & debris with damages to both transmission & distribution lines.”
The intense storm and high winds caught weather forecasters by surprise. Meteorologist Eric Berger of Space City Weather reported an unconfirmed wind gust of 97 mph at Bush Intercontinental Airport.
The storm also dumped up to an inch of rain in areas that had been under a heat advisory for days.