ok travel conditions

Oklahoma Department of Transportation update on road conditions

by Ashley Ellis, KTUL Staff

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Oklahoma Department of Transportation crews are reporting isolated slick spots in northwestern, northern, northeastern, eastern, and central Oklahoma as of 5 a.m. Friday.

Oklahoma Turnpike Authority crews are reporting isolated slick spots on turnpikes in central and northeastern Oklahoma. ODOT and OTA crews are continuing to monitor conditions and will treat roads as necessary throughout the morning.

Motorists are reminded to use extra caution during the morning commute. Please note that bridges and overpasses often freeze first meaning extra caution should be used in these areas. If motorists must travel, they should drive for the conditions, which includes slowing down and planning extra travel time.

Motorists should check current road conditions on the interactive travel map at www.okroads.org or through the free Drive Oklahoma mobile app before heading out.

REMEMBER during snowy and icy conditions, motorists are asked to:

• Stay about 200 feet behind road clearing equipment; crews need room to maneuver and can engage plowing or spreading materials without notice.
• Allow extra space between vehicles to provide adequate distance for braking.
• Be aware of "black ice," which looks wet on the roadway but is a thin layer of ice.
• Be patient, plan trips ahead and allow extra time in reaching destinations.

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The vast majority of flight delays and cancellations are weather related. Conditions like precipitation, wind, and fog greatly affect how safe and enjoyable flying can be. If your current location or your intended destination is experiencing bad weather, be sure to check with your airline for any delays or cancellations before heading to the airport.

• Check with your airline to be aware of any flight delays or cancellations
• Flying earlier in the day can help avoid any cascading delays from earlier flights
• Give yourself enough time between connecting flights in case of a weather delay on your first flight

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Tulsa Traffic Advisory 5-17-24

The projects below are weather permitting:, us-169 ramp to i-244 closed through monday.

The northbound US-169 ramp to eastbound I-244 will be closed from 9 a.m. Thursday through 6 a.m. Monday for surface repairs.

I-244 on-ramp from 1st St. (W leg IDL) closed Saturday through Monday

The eastbound I-244 on-ramp from 1st St. (west leg of the Inner Dispersal Loop) will be closed from 6 a.m. Saturday through noon Monday for fencing installation as part of a bridge rehabilitation project.

Memorial Dr. narrows at US-169/Creek Turnpike Sunday, Monday nights

North and southbound US-64/Memorial Dr. will be have various lane closures in each direction at the US-169/SH-364/Creek Turnpike interchange from 7 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday and again Monday night. for striping operations as part of an ongoing interchange improvement project.The right lanes of both north and southbound US-169 will also be closed at Memorial Dr.

Memorial Dr. narrows at US-169 in South Tulsa through June 2024

North and southbound Memorial Dr. are narrowed to two lanes in each direction at the US-169 and SH-364/Creek Turnpike interchange for an intersection improvement project through June 2024. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained on northbound and southbound Memorial Dr. between 93rd St. and 97th St. throughout the majority of the project. No ramp closures are expected for either US-169 or SH-364/Creek Turnpike during construction.

Drivers are urged to give full attention to the road throughout construction and be aware of shifting lanes and new traffic configurations as work progresses.

US-412 narrows, on-ramp closed at Quanah Ave. through May 22

Westbound US-412 will be narrowed to two lanes near Quanah Ave. and the westbound US-412 on-ramp from Quanah Ave. will be closed through May 22 for a bridge repair project. Union Ave. will also be closed over US-412 during the project.

Oklahoma Turnpike Authority

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority projects below are weather permitting:

I-44/Turner Turnpike closed between Stroud and Chandler Friday, Saturday nights

Westbound I-44/Turner Turnpike and the Stroud Service Plaza will be closed between SH-99 (mm 179) and the Stroud Service Plaza from 9 p.m. Friday, to 6 a.m. Saturday, as part of a bridge replacement project. Motorists can detour using SH-99 to westbound SH-66 to northbound SH-18 to westbound I-44/Turner Turnpike at Chandler (mm 166). Additionally, eastbound I-44/Turner Turnpike will be closed between SH-18 at Chandler and SH-99 at Stroud from 9 p.m. Saturday, and 6 a.m. Sunday. The Chandler Service Plaza also will be closed during this time.

I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike narrows near Claremore Friday night

Westbound I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike will be intermittently narrowed to one lane from 7 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday for ongoing SH-20 and Flint Rd. construction.

I-44/Turner Turnpike shoulder closures near Heyburn through summer

Motorists can expect shoulder closures on the I-44/Turner Turnpike between mm 201-203 near Heyburn in Creek County through summer as work begins to widen the turnpike to six lanes in this area. Motorists can expect narrow lanes through the remainder of the 6-mile work zone toward Bristow as well as reduced speed limits. SH-66 will be intermittently narrowed where it intersects with the I-44/Turner Turnpike at mm 202 through fall for the construction of new interchange ramps.

Ongoing Highway Construction Projects

Bridge replacement project continues at i-244 and us-169 through spring 2024.

A bridge replacement project at the northbound US-169 ramp to westbound I-244/US-412 continues through spring 2024, weather permitting.

Eastbound I-244 closed at I-44, I-244/US-75 narrow in West Tulsa

A pavement rehabilitation project on I-244 between I-44 and the Arkansas River bridge in West Tulsa continues through spring 2025. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction between the US-75 split and the Arkansas River during peak travel times, while one direction at a time will be closed between I-44 and US-75. Current closures include:

• All lanes and on-ramps of eastbound I-244 between I-44 (mm 1A) and US-75 (mm 2) are closed. Motorists can detour using eastbound I-44 to northbound US-75.
• I-244 is narrowed to two lanes in both directions between US-75 and the Arkansas River bridge.
• Westbound I-244/southbound US-75 off-ramp to 23rd St. is closed.
• Westbound I-244/southbound US-75 on-ramp from Southwest Blvd. near 23rd St. is closed.
• W. 48th St. is closed at I-244.

Bridge rehabilitation project continues at I-244 ramp to SH-11 through 2024

The eastbound I-244/US-412 ramp to westbound SH-11 (mm 12B) is closed through late 2024 as part of a bridge rehabilitation project. Eastbound I-244 motorists bound for SH-11/Tulsa International Airport can detour using Mingo Rd. (mm 13A) to access SH-11. Motorists from near Downtown Tulsa can also use northbound US-75 and eastbound SH-11 to reach the airport. Current closures include:

• The left lane of westbound I-244 is closed at SH-11 until further notice

I-244 narrows to one lane near US-75 (NE corner IDL) through June

Eastbound I-244 will be narrowed to one lane at the US-75 junction (northeast corner of the Inner Dispersal Loop) through June for bridge rehabilitation.

US-75 off-ramp to 7th St. (E leg IDL) closed through summer

The northbound US-75 off-ramp to 7th St. (east leg of the Inner Dispersal Loop) is closed through summer 2024 for bridge rehabilitation.

Bridge rehabilitation project continues on US-412 at 81st W. Ave. in Sand Springs through February 2025

US-412 is narrowed to two lanes in each direction at 81st W. Ave. in Sand Springs through February 2025 for a bridge rehabilitation project.

Street widening continues on 33rd W. Ave. at I-44 through summer 2024

A street widening project continues on 33rd W. Ave. at I-44 to widen 33rd W. Ave. to 5 lanes under the interstate and repave the westbound I-44 on- and off-ramps. Work should be completed in summer 2024. Current impacts include:

• The westbound I-44 off- and on-ramps at 33rd W. Ave. (mm 223C) are closed through mid June.
• 33rd W. Ave. between 51st St. and Skelly Dr. is closed through mid June.
• Eastbound Skelly Dr. is closed at 33rd W. Ave.

SH-97 pavement rehabilitation continues in Sand Springs through spring 2025

A pavement reconstruction on SH-97 from S. Main St. to W. 2nd St. in Sand Springs continues through spring 2025. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in both directions during peak hours.

• The SH-97 center turn lanes at US-412 are closed until further notice. Access to US-412 remains open.

SH-97 narrows at 81st St. in Sapulpa through summer 2024

North and southbound SH-97 will be narrowed to one lane in each direction near 81st St. in Sapulpa beginning Monday through summer 2024 as part of an intersection improvement project.

SH-51 narrows at Muskogee Turnpike in BA through spring 2024

Westbound SH-51 is narrowed to two lanes at the junction with SH-351/Muskogee Turnpike in Broken Arrow through spring 2024 for bridge replacement as part of a City of Broken Arrow street widening project. The lane closure begins on the Muskogee Turnpike near the junction. Lanes will also be shifted on eastbound SH-51 through the work zone.

Intersection improvement at SH-51 and 91st St. in Broken Arrow continues through fall 2024

A speed limit reduction is in place on SH-51 near 91st St. in Broken Arrow through fall 2024 as part of an ongoing intersection improvement project

Oklahoma Department of Transportation 200 N.E. 21st Street Oklahoma City, OK 73105

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Strong winds snap power poles and trees during severe storms in edmond.

While the National Weather Service has not confirmed a tornado in the area, KOCO 5 saw reports of winds around 100 mph in parts of Edmond overnight.

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Residents of an Edmond neighborhood woke up Thursday morning to damage after a vicious storm hit overnight.

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OG&E is in the area near Western and Waterloo in north Edmond to restore power after the storms snapped a power pole. Crews also worked to clear a spot where power lines blocked the road.

A few people in the neighborhood told KOCO 5 that last night’s storms woke them up, and they could hear debris slamming into their windows.

“I didn’t expect to see the tree damage that I saw just now. We heard a lot of wind and rain,” David Herford said. “I remember getting up and saw the window was blowing really hard. But I went back to bed thinking it was just a storm. And then a few hours later, my daughter came in and said, ‘Are you OK? It sounded like something hit the window and the front door really hard.’ She thought it was a tornado. I thought it was just high winds.”

No significant structural damage has been reported in Edmond.

Be sure to download the KOCO 5 App to receive customized weather alerts. You can watch our team coverage on the app, too.

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Tornado touches down near Yukon, Mustang Sunday night

Severe weather including tornadoes and large hail moved through western and central Oklahoma Sunday night.

Storms began forming in western Oklahoma late Sunday afternoon and moved into the Oklahoma City metro area after 9 p.m.

The storms produced tornadoes, winds up to 80 mph and baseball-sized hail, according to the National Weather Service .

Confirmed tornadoes were reported near Custer City in western Oklahoma as well as near Yukon and Mustang.

Tornado warning issued near Waynoka

As storms in the Oklahoma City metro began to wind down, a new tornado warning was issued in northern Oklahoman near Waynoka.

Another storm with large hail was moving through the Enid area just before 11 p.m.

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OKC airport resumes normal operations

Will Rogers World Airport announced at 10:31 p.m. that it was resuming normal operations.

The airport delayed arriving flights during a tornado-warned storm.

Tornado warning expires, severe thunderstorm warning issued for OKC, Moore, Midwest City

The tornado warning issued for western parts of the Oklahoma City metro was allowed to expire late Sunday.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued at 10:27 p.m. that included areas near Oklahoma City, Moore and Midwest City.

Storm spotters reported large hail near Tinker Air Force Base.

Flights delayed at Oklahoma City airport

As of 10:15 Sunday night, planes had been grounded at Will Rogers World Airport .

Airport operations were stopped at 10:21 p.m. with 15 flights scheduled to arrive before midnight being delayed.

Tornado warning for south Oklahoma City

The National Weather Service reported a circulating storm near Interstate 240 and Interstate 35 at 10:15 p.m. Sunday.

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt took to X to warn residents in the area to take tornado precautions.

Sunday in the Park with the PHIL canceled

"Sunday in the Park with the PHIL", a free concert Sunday night at Scissortail Park was canceled due to inclement weather.

The OKC Philharmonic posted on its website the show would be rescheduled soon.

Tornado sirens sounding in Oklahoma City

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning that included Oklahoma, Cleveland, Canadian and McClain counties shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday.

Multiple X (formerly Twitter) users reported tornado sirens were sounding in downtown Oklahoma City.

Tornado on the ground near Yukon, Mustang

Multiple storm spotters reported a tornado was on the ground near southwest Yukon and northwest Mustang at 9:35 p.m. Sunday.

The tornado was just south of Clarence E Page Airport near NW 10 and Cimarron Road at 9:48 p.m.

Yukon, Mustang, El Reno included in latest tornado warning

The western edge of the Oklahoma City metro was included in a tornado warning shortly after 9:15 p.m. Sunday night.

An area of rotation was located between El Reno and Union City and was expected to be near Will Rogers World Airport shortly before 10 p.m.

The northern edge of the tornado-warned supercell was producing golf ball- to baseball-sized hail.

Tornado warning issued for Blaine, Caddo, Canadian counties

A tornado warning for Blaine, Caddo and Canadian counties was issued shortly after 8:45 p.m.. It was scheduled to last until 9:30 p.m.

The storm was producing baseball-sized hail about 10 miles west of El Reno, hear Calumet.

Tornado warning issued for Blaine, Caddo, Custer counties

A tornado warning was issued at 8:12 p.m. for a storm that produced a tornado near Custer City. The warning was scheduled to expire at 9 p.m.

The warning included areas near Hydro, Geary, Calumet and El Reno.

Tornado emergency issued for Custer City

A tornado emergency was declared at 7:40 p.m. near Custer City, about 90 miles west of Oklahoma City.

While the tornado emergency was canceled shortly before 8 p.m., the National Weather Service said a tornado warning was still in effect.

The storm was moving east at 25-30 mph, but was expected to weaken as it approached Interstate 35 in the Oklahoma City area.

National Weather Service updates

Weather alerts: tornado watch, tornado warnings issued, what to do when there's a tornado watch.

Be prepared — tornadoes are possible in and around the area mentioned in the watch. Be ready to act quickly.

NWS: How to prepare for a tornado

What to do when there's a tornado warning

Take action now. A warning means someone saw a tornado or one was indicated by weather radar. Under a tornado warning, there's imminent danger to life and property. Everyone should move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.

Live radar Oklahoma weather

Tornadoes leave damage across Oklahoma on Sunday night

Tornadoes touched down and large hail fell, causing damage across Oklahoma on Sunday.

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KOCO 5 Chief Meteorologist Damon Lane and the First Alert Weather Team brought you team coverage. The live blog has ended for the night. Read below for updates from Sunday's storms.

12:42 a.m. Monday Update: A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Alfalfa, Grant and Garfield counties until 1:30 a.m. The storm is warned for golf ball-sized hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

12:01 a.m. Monday Update: A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Woods and Alfalfa counties until 12:15 a.m.

11:52 p.m. Sunday Update: A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for northern Oklahoma until 6 a.m.

11:40 p.m. Sunday Update: Two people were injured after their home was destroyed by a tornado in Blaine County, according to the sheriff. The Hydro Fire Department was able to extricate them from the residence, and they were transported by ambulance to a hospital.

11:30 p.m. Sunday Update: A jackknifed semi crashed near the Interstate 35 and Interstate 40 interchange in Oklahoma City, and the cab is suspended around 20 feet in the air.

11:23 p.m. Sunday Update: A home near Southwest 10th Street and Cimarron Road in Canadian County had significant damage from a tornado. There have not been any injuries reported in the storms, but dozens of people were in the area helping the homeowners with the recovery efforts.

11:07 p.m. Sunday Update: A tornado-warned storm is moving towards Avard. People in the area should take shelter.

10:51 p.m. Sunday Update: A tornado warning was issued for Woods and Woodward counties until 11:30 p.m. as a storm moves near Waynoka.

10:47 p.m. Sunday Update: A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Garfield County, with golf ball-sized hail and 60 mph winds possible in the Enid area until 11 p.m.

10:36 p.m. Sunday Update: A tornado warning was canceled for Cleveland and Oklahoma counties.

10:33 p.m. Sunday Update: Law enforcement officials confirm a house sustained damage near 15th Street and Banner Road as a tornado moved through the area earlier.

10:28 p.m. Sunday Update: A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Oklahoma and Cleveland counties for a storm over Del City until 11:15 p.m.

10:23 p.m. Sunday Update: A tornado warning was issued for a storm located over Valley Brook, moving east at 30 mph for Cleveland and Oklahoma counties until 10:45 p.m.

10:21 p.m. Sunday Update: Planes at Will Rogers World Airport have been grounded. Tenants and visitors were evacuated to the tunnel for safety.

10:12 p.m. Sunday Update: Power flashes were reported near Will Rogers World Airport. People in the area should be in their shelters.

10:05 p.m. Sunday Update: A tornado-warned storm is moving east into south Oklahoma City. Take your tornado precautions now. An area of circulation has been reported near Will Rogers World Airport.

9:57 p.m. Sunday Update: A tornado warning was issued for Oklahoma, Cleveland, Canadian and McClain counties for a storm near the Outlet Mall until 10:45 p.m.

9:55 p.m. Sunday Update: A tornado was spotted on the ground near Morgan Road and Highway 152. Take shelter now.

9:52 p.m. Sunday Update: A new area of rotation was developing south of Interstate 40 near El Reno.

9:41 p.m. Sunday Update: Anyone near Clarence E. Page Airport to the areas south of Yukon should be in their tornado shelters. A tornado is on the ground in the area.

9:37 p.m. Sunday Update: A large, dangerous tornado southwest of Yukon is on the ground. People in Mustang south of Interstate 40 should get in their tornado shelters immediately.

9:33 p.m. Sunday Update: People living near the Bethany tank battery fire in the area of Northwest 30th Street and Rockwell Avenue have been ordered to shelter in place. They have also been told to keep their doors and windows shut, as well as their air conditioners off.

9:24 p.m. Sunday Update: A tornado was reported between Union City and El Reno, heading toward Mustang. Residents should take tornado precautions now.

9:21 p.m. Sunday Update: A severe storm put on a lightening show near Geary. Sky 5 shows the moments it happened.

9:14 p.m. Sunday Update: A tornado warning was issued for the Oklahoma City area. The warning is for Canadian and Grady counties, including Yukon and Mustang until 10 p.m.

9:07 p.m. Sunday Update: Sky 5 shows a massive tank battery fire in Oklahoma City as storms continue to move toward the metro.

9:03 p.m. Sunday Update: The Blaine County Sheriff's Office is responding to reports of a mobile home flipped over east of Hydro. Officials said this was near East 1005 Road.

The house was destroyed, but everyone was out safe, according to the sheriff.

8:56 p.m. Sunday Update: You keep hearing KOCO 5 Chief Meteorologist Damon Lane talking about "the cap," but what is it? Click here to learn more .

8:44 p.m. Sunday Update: A tornado warning was issued for a storm near Geary, moving east at 45 mph until 9:30 p.m.

8:41 p.m. Sunday Update: A severe thunderstorm warning with the potential for 70 mph winds and golf ball-sized hail was issued for Kingfisher, Blaine and Caddo counties until 9:30 p.m.

8:35 p.m. Sunday Update: A lightning strike reportedly sparked a large tank battery fire in Geary. Sky 5 and Storm Command were at the scene, showing flames engulfing the tank battery. Open the video player below to watch.

8:17 p.m. Sunday Update: Custer City police told KOCO 5 that there is tornado damage in the area. The extent of the damage has not been confirmed.

8:14 p.m. Sunday Update: A tornado warning was issued for Blaine, Caddo and Custer County until 9 p.m.

8:09 p.m. Sunday Update: The tornado warning for Custer County has been extended until 8:30 p.m.

8 p.m. Sunday Update: Meteorologist Michael Armstrong captured the moments a large tornado touched down near Custer City. Open the video player below to watch.

7:54 p.m. Sunday Update: The tornado emergency for the area near Custer City has been canceled. The tornado warning with the storm, however, remains. Custer County is under a tornado warning until 8:30 p.m.

7:52 p.m. Sunday Update: The tornado warning for Custer County has been extended until 8:30 p.m.

7:41 p.m. Sunday Update: A tornado emergency has been issued for Custer City after a large tornado was spotted on the ground. People in the area are urged to take tornado precautions.

7:35 p.m. Sunday Update: A tornado warning has been issued for Blaine, Caddo and Custer counties until 8 p.m. Damon says those storms could produce tennis ball-sized hail.

7:29 p.m. Sunday Update: A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Blaine, Caddo, Custer and Washita counties until 8 p.m. Damon says the storms bring 60 mph winds and quarter-sized hail.

7:22 p.m. Sunday Update: A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Washita County until 7:30 p.m.

7:14 p.m. Sunday Update: The tornado warning for Custer County has been extended until 8 p.m.

7:06 p.m. Sunday Update: A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Kowa and Washita counties until 7:30 p.m.

7:02 p.m. Sunday Update: The tornado warning for Roger Mills County has been dropped but continues for Custer County until 7:15 p.m.

A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Dewey, Ellis and Roger Mills counties until until 7:30 p.m.

6:55 p.m. Sunday Update: Field Meteorologist Michael Armstrong is tracking severe storms in Hammon, saying he's seen hail as big as baseballs on the ground.

6:50 p.m. Sunday Update: The tornado warning for Custer and Roger Mills counties has been extended until 7:15 p.m.

6:35 p.m. Sunday Update: A tornado warning is in effect for Custer and Roger Mills counties until 7 p.m.

5:55 p.m. Sunday Update: A severe thunderstorm is moving from Texas into western Oklahoma. The storm was located 6 miles west of Durham, moving east at 20 mph.

The storms could produce golf ball-sized hail and 70 mph wind gusts.

KOCO 5 Meteorologist Sabrina Bates says the storm also has a tornado tag on it. This is not a tornado warning, but it means that the atmosphere could produce a tornado.

2:40 p.m. Sunday Update: A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for several Oklahoma counties until 10 p.m. Those counties include Grant, Alfalfa, Dewey, Ellis, Harper, Major, Woods, Woodward, Roger Mills, Texas and Beaver.

KOCO 5 Meteorologist Sabrina Bates says this is a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" watch, because there is a potential for very strong winds, with gusts up to 90 mph, and large hail. The tornado risk is low, but there is a threat.

10 a.m. Sunday Update : A chance for severe storms on Sunday was upgraded and expanded to include the Oklahoma City metro.

KOCO 5 Meteorologist Taylor Cox says the northwest parts of the state, including Alva and Woodward, will now see a level-three enhanced risk for severe weather on a 1-5 scale. Parts of west and north Oklahoma will see a level-two slight risk for severe storms, and the Oklahoma City area into Hobart and Tulsa will see a level-one marginal risk for severe weather.

Hazards with the storms could include 80 mph winds, and northwest Oklahoma could see isolated baseball-sized hail. Alva and Woodward will see a tornado index of 4 on a 1-10 scale, and areas including Enid and Ponca City will see a tornado index of 2.

Isolated storms will begin moving into western Oklahoma around 4 p.m. As the weather moves east, the storms could weaken in intensity, especially in the southern parts of the state.

Be sure to download the KOCO 5 App to receive customized weather alerts. You can watch our team coverage on the app, too.

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TOP STORIES FROM KOCO:

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READ THE FULL STORY: Tornadoes leave damage across Oklahoma on Sunday night

CHECK OUT KOCO: Get the day’s top news, weather and sports from Oklahoma City and around the state. With the best in Oklahoma news, KOCO 5 News has you covered.

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WEATHER ALERT

13 warnings in effect for 14 counties in the area

Flight delays at houston’s bush and hobby airports amid severe thunderstorms.

HOUSTON – Flight delays have been reported at Bush Intercontinental Airport and Houston William P. Hobby Airport on Thursday afternoon and evening due to severe thunderstorms in the Houston area.

Bush Airport released the following statement:

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Due to area storms, expect flight delays and interruptions this Sunday. To avoid terminal congestion, please wait at our cellphone lots until your passenger is ready for pickup.

United Airlines stated that its team will continue to monitor weather conditions as storms roll through Southeast Texas:

Our operations team continues to monitor weather developments in Houston and adjust our schedule accordingly. We currently have waivers in place for customers traveling to, from or through IAH and other impacted cities.

Customers may visit united.com to check their flight status and view the latest information. We encourage travelers to download our mobile app and use our Agent on Demand tool, which enables them to bypass the line to speak with agents and get assistance via text, FaceTime or phone call.

Click here to check your flight status .

For more information regarding the storms sweeping across the Houston area:

• Check interactive radar
• Check the latest weather alerts
• Check real-time traffic conditions
• Check the forecast
• Share your weather pictures and video
• Download the free Frank’s Forecast app

Copyright 2021 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.

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The huge solar storm is keeping power grid and satellite operators on edge

Geoff Brumfiel

Willem Marx

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm. Solar Dynamics Observatory hide caption

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm.

Planet Earth is getting rocked by the biggest solar storm in decades – and the potential effects have those people in charge of power grids, communications systems and satellites on edge.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm that has been visible as aurora across vast swathes of the Northern Hemisphere. So far though, NOAA has seen no reports of major damage.

The Picture Show

Photos: see the northern lights from rare, solar storm.

There has been some degradation and loss to communication systems that rely on high-frequency radio waves, NOAA told NPR, as well as some preliminary indications of irregularities in power systems.

"Simply put, the power grid operators have been busy since yesterday working to keep proper, regulated current flowing without disruption," said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for the Boulder, Co.-based Space Weather Prediction Center at NOAA.

NOAA Issues First Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Since 2005

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"Satellite operators are also busy monitoring spacecraft health due to the S1-S2 storm taking place along with the severe-extreme geomagnetic storm that continues even now," Dahl added, saying some GPS systems have struggled to lock locations and offered incorrect positions.

NOAA's GOES-16 satellite captured a flare erupting occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2024.

As NOAA had warned late Friday, the Earth has been experiencing a G5, or "Extreme," geomagnetic storm . It's the first G5 storm to hit the planet since 2003, when a similar event temporarily knocked out power in part of Sweden and damaged electrical transformers in South Africa.

The NOAA center predicted that this current storm could induce auroras visible as far south as Northern California and Alabama.

Extreme (G5) geomagnetic conditions have been observed! pic.twitter.com/qLsC8GbWus — NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) May 10, 2024

Around the world on social media, posters put up photos of bright auroras visible in Russia , Scandinavia , the United Kingdom and continental Europe . Some reported seeing the aurora as far south as Mallorca, Spain .

The source of the solar storm is a cluster of sunspots on the sun's surface that is 17 times the diameter of the Earth. The spots are filled with tangled magnetic fields that can act as slingshots, throwing huge quantities of charged particles towards our planet. These events, known as coronal mass ejections, become more common during the peak of the Sun's 11-year solar cycle.

A powerful solar storm is bringing northern lights to unusual places

Usually, they miss the Earth, but this time, NOAA says several have headed directly toward our planet, and the agency predicted that several waves of flares will continue to slam into the Earth over the next few days.

While the storm has proven to be large, predicting the effects from such incidents can be difficult, Dahl said.

Shocking problems

The most disruptive solar storm ever recorded came in 1859. Known as the "Carrington Event," it generated shimmering auroras that were visible as far south as Mexico and Hawaii. It also fried telegraph systems throughout Europe and North America.

Stronger activity on the sun could bring more displays of the northern lights in 2024

While this geomagnetic storm will not be as strong, the world has grown more reliant on electronics and electrical systems. Depending on the orientation of the storm's magnetic field, it could induce unexpected electrical currents in long-distance power lines — those currents could cause safety systems to flip, triggering temporary power outages in some areas.

my cat just experienced the aurora borealis, one of the world's most radiant natural phenomena... and she doesn't care pic.twitter.com/Ee74FpWHFm — PJ (@kickthepj) May 10, 2024

The storm is also likely to disrupt the ionosphere, a section of Earth's atmosphere filled with charged particles. Some long-distance radio transmissions use the ionosphere to "bounce" signals around the globe, and those signals will likely be disrupted. The particles may also refract and otherwise scramble signals from the global positioning system, according to Rob Steenburgh, a space scientist with NOAA. Those effects can linger for a few days after the storm.

Like Dahl, Steenburgh said it's unclear just how bad the disruptions will be. While we are more dependent than ever on GPS, there are also more satellites in orbit. Moreover, the anomalies from the storm are constantly shifting through the ionosphere like ripples in a pool. "Outages, with any luck, should not be prolonged," Steenburgh said.

What Causes The Northern Lights? Scientists Finally Know For Sure

The radiation from the storm could have other undesirable effects. At high altitudes, it could damage satellites, while at low altitudes, it's likely to increase atmospheric drag, causing some satellites to sink toward the Earth.

The changes to orbits wreak havoc, warns Tuija Pulkkinen, chair of the department of climate and space sciences at the University of Michigan. Since the last solar maximum, companies such as SpaceX have launched thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit. Those satellites will now see their orbits unexpectedly changed.

"There's a lot of companies that haven't seen these kind of space weather effects before," she says.

The International Space Station lies within Earth's magnetosphere, so its astronauts should be mostly protected, Steenburgh says.

In a statement, NASA said that astronauts would not take additional measures to protect themselves. "NASA completed a thorough analysis of recent space weather activity and determined it posed no risk to the crew aboard the International Space Station and no additional precautionary measures are needed," the agency said late Friday.

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England. Ian Forsyth/Getty Images hide caption

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England.

While this storm will undoubtedly keep satellite operators and utilities busy over the next few days, individuals don't really need to do much to get ready.

"As far as what the general public should be doing, hopefully they're not having to do anything," Dahl said. "Weather permitting, they may be visible again tonight." He advised that the largest problem could be a brief blackout, so keeping some flashlights and a radio handy might prove helpful.

I took these photos near Ranfurly in Central Otago, New Zealand. Anyone can use them please spread far and wide. :-) https://t.co/NUWpLiqY2S — Dr Andrew Dickson reform/ACC (@AndrewDickson13) May 10, 2024

And don't forget to go outside and look up, adds Steenburgh. This event's aurora is visible much further south than usual.

A faint aurora can be detected by a modern cell phone camera, he adds, so even if you can't see it with your eyes, try taking a photo of the sky.

The aurora "is really the gift from space weather," he says.

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Houston metro rocked by 100 mph derecho that left 7 dead and over 1 million without power

A storm system spawned severe thunderstorms in houston thursday, causing at least four fatalities and leaving more than 1 million customers without power across southeastern texas..

Houston area continues clean up efforts after 100 mph derecho blasts downtown

Several buildings across Houston suffered damage in Thursday's storm, including high-rises whose officials say every floor has at least one window completely blown out. 

HOUSTON - A line of severe thunderstorms swept through southeastern Texas and Louisiana on Thursday, blasting the Houston area with incredible winds reaching up to 100 mph that left at least seven dead - including a mother of a newborn - and more than 1 million power customers without electricity.

The extreme wind gusts blew out windows of high-rise buildings and caused transmission towers holding power lines to crumble.

The National Weather Service in Houston called the event a derecho , which produces destructive winds over hundreds of miles and impacts millions of people.

SEE IT: DEADLY STORMS WALLOP HOUSTON AS FEROCIOUS WINDS LEAVE DESTRUCTIVE PATH ACROSS SOUTH

PowerOutage.us reported that more than 800,000 people in the Houston metro area lost power, but with nearby counties also dealing with outages, the state’s tally climbed to well over 1 million customers at the storm's peak. More than a half million were still without power in Houston as of early Saturday morning.

NWS storm survey teams said much of the damage across much of the Houston area was straight-line winds from extreme thunderstorm downdrafts, though one EF-1 tornado was confirmed near Cypress. 

The strongest gust recorded by a wind gauge was 78 mph in the Highlands neighborhood, but based on the extent of damage, survey teams estimated thunderstorm gusts reached 90-100 mph in Baytown, while Downtown Houston had "significant" straight-line winds peaking at 100 mph. 

"It was kind of crazy — I was up in my bedroom and all of a sudden my alarm starts going off: ‘Tornado Warning! Tornado Warning! Take shelter,’ " Juan Alcala, who was visiting Houston form Austin, told FOX Weather.  "All of a sudden everything just turns dark, and you could see outside the wind started coming in, and the rain — it was just dark."

President Joe Biden declared seven counties as a major disaster, which will allow FEMA to approve assistance and provide storm victims access to small business loans.

SOME HOUSTON RESIDENTS TOLD COULD BE ‘WEEKS’ WITHOUT POWER AS 90S HEAT RETURNS

Mother of newborn among 7 killed by storm

Houston Mayor John Whitmire said at least four people were killed by the storm, and state resources were being requested to help with the recovery. At least two were killed by falling trees, and a third was killed by a falling crane, officials said.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office reported an additional three fatalities on Friday evening that were all considered to be indirectly or directly tied to the storm.

4 killed as severe storms blast Houston area with 75+ mph wind

A mother of a newborn was among four killed when a line of severe thunderstorms brought ferocious winds to the Houston area Thursday night, FOX 26 Houston reports.

A 31-year-old woman who had recently given birth to her fourth child was killed when a tree fell across their car in their driveway, according to FOX 26 Houston. The station reports the woman had concerns about the stability of the tree in the storm and had gone out to the car to move it out of the way when the tree toppled, pinning her inside.

A 73-year-old man was killed while working inside a cement truck when a crane toppled into the cab, FOX 26 reported. 

Man killed after crane falls on cement truck during Houston's severe storm

A man was killed when a large crane fell on a cement truck during a severe storm in Houston on Thursday, officials say. The tragic incident unfolded about 6:40 p.m. CDT Thursday on Wingate near 75th Street.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez stated the tragic episodes led to at least three deaths in the unincorporated county.

"We had a storm with 100 mph winds — the equivalent of Hurricane Ike. (There's) considerable damage downtown," Whitmire said during a press conference Thursday night. "We had firefighters taking live wires off (Interstate) 290 that was blocking thoroughfares."

(FOX Weather)

Whitmire warned that 2,500 traffic lights across the city were still dark Friday morning, "and they will be down for considerable hours."

METRO Houston reported several disruptions to its METRORail lines, with debris covering tracks in several locations. Bus shuttles were providing emergency service, but officials warned that bus routes were encountering significant delays and detours due to damage around the city. 

Several windows were broken in downtown Houston high-rise buildings during severe weather on May 16, 2024.

(Chief Samuel Peña, Houston Fire Dept. / FOX Weather)

"We’re absolutely focused right now on trying to deal with the numerous roads that are blocked by fallen trees, power lines, and debris from some of the structures," Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told FOX Weather. "So we’re coordinating with some of the different crews that are going to be out there so we are asking everybody to be patient as they navigate around some of the slow traffic."

‘Rain and debris poured into the lobby’

WATCH A WIND TURBINE DISINTEGRATE IN TEXAS AFTER A LIGHTNING STRIKE

The local National Weather Service office issued several Tornado Warnings for the Houston metro on Thursday evening, but by the time the storms cleared, strong winds were believed to have caused most of the damage.

"The roof of the Hyatt Regency downtown blew out," a customer at the hotel told FOX Weather. "Rain and debris poured down to the lobby."

He said staff were doing their best to keep people safe and away from the debris.

Damage is left behind after severe thunderstorms swept through Houston on May 16, 2024. ( )

A 31-year-old woman was killed when a tree fell across her vehicle on May 16, 2024. ( )

Window damage to downtown Houston business on 5/16/2024 (Matt Horn/FOX 26 Houston)

Damage around the Houston metro after severe storms (Cy-Fair Fire Department.)

Severe storm damage outside of Houston, Texas (Justin Reed/Cy-Fair Fire Department)

Harris County, Texas storm damage ( )

Tree damage in Katy, Texas during Thursday's severe storms (Katy, Texas EM)

Power pole damage during severe storm in Houston on 5/16/2024 (City of Houston)

Flooding of roadways around Harris County, Texas on 5/16/2024 (Harris County Sheriff's Office)

Storm clouds move over Houston on May 16, 2024. (@khvetkevych via X)

Windows appeared to be blown out in other downtown buildings, including around the Wells Fargo Plaza. 

Listen to wind howl through Wells Fargo Plaza in downtown Houston

A tornado-warned storm rolled into the Houston-metro area shortly before 6 p.m. CDT Thursday. Guests in the lobby of Wells Fargo Plaza could hear the pounding winds driving torrential rains outside with debris flying by the windows. Wind reports up to 78 mph were reported in the area with widespread damage reported of homes, downed trees and blown out windows in downtown skyscrapers.

"At least five different high-rise buildings and office buildings and hotels are dealing with serious damage," said FOX Weather Corespondent Katie Byrne . "There are glass company crews on the ground trying to get through every single floor, but some of them tell me that every single floor has at least one completely blown out window. And these are high-rises with dozens and dozens of floors."

The broken glass and debris forced city leaders to implore non-essential downtown workers to stay home on Friday and ask business owners to be flexible with employee absences.

In nearby Minute Maid Park, wind and water were seen blowing into the building, but the severe weather did not appear to affect the play of the Astros baseball game.

Rain and wind sweep through before the game between the Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics Minute Maid Park on May 16, 2024 in Houston, Texas.

(Logan Riely / Getty Images)

HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER

"It is all hands on deck tonight…Downtown is a mess, so stay at home tonight and tomorrow," Whitmire said.

Local residents described the storm's impacts as hurricane-like despite the severe weather lasting less than an hour.

Due to the severe weather, ground stops were also issued at Bush Intercontinental Airport and Houston William P. Hobby Airport. At the peak of the storm, gusts at both airports reached 62 mph.  A gust of 71 mph was clocked in College Station, while Cypress hit a gust of 65 mph.

The Houston school district closed all public schools on Friday and said they would reopen Monday. 

Damaged buildings in downtown Houston during severe storm

A tornado-warned storm caused significant damage in downtown Houston, with windows blown out of tall buildings on Thursday evening.

Dangerous heat returns as hundreds of thousands remain without power

While the storms' clouds and rain kept temperatures in the low 80s Friday, the return of late springtime heat looms for Houston this weekend into next week, leaving the hundreds of thousands still without power with the daunting reality that they may not have air conditioning.

According to Harris County Executive Judge Lina Hidalgo, 10 energy transmission lines are down.

"If you are tied into the transmission lines that fell… just like in (Hurricane) Ike, you are going to have to go a couple of weeks, most likely, without power," Hidalgo said. 

Highs on Saturday and Sunday are expected to climb back into the low 90s around Houston, and with typical humid Gulf air in place, heat index readings are expected to reach the mid 90s.

"We are looking at a multiday event," said Paul Lock with Centerpoint Energy. "If you depend on life-saving equipment, you need to make plans now to find another place to stay."

Houston businesses see major damage from derecho

A line of storms with winds of at least 100 mph impacted parts of East and Southeast Texas on Friday, causing over 1 million power outages and days of clean-up.

84 mph wind rakes New Orleans as storms sweep Gulf Coast

The line of severe thunderstorms continued their march across the Gulf Coast Thursday night into early Friday morning, leaving a trail of wind damage and power outages there in their wake.

Tens of thousands lost power in New Orleans, part of 200,000 power outages in Louisiana during the peak of the storm.  New Orleans International Airport recorded two gusts of 84 mph and another gust of 76 mph, as New Orleans’ Lakefront Airport recorded a gust of 82 mph.  Accompanying heavy rains left some streets and underpasses flooded around the New Orleans area.

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