HomeBlogBaseball-sized hail and flooding leave over 68 000 without power in Austin, central Texas
Baseball-sized hail and flooding leave over 68 000 without power in Austin, central Texas
Severe storms swept through central Texas on May 28, 2025, producing hailstones up to 7 cm (2.75 inches) in diameter, flash flooding, and wind gusts up to 124 km/h (77 mph). The storms caused extensive damage in Austin, leaving more than 68 000 customers without power and prompting multiple water rescues across the city.
Powerline downed after storms in Austin, Texas on May 28, 2025. Credit: Austin Energy
Severe thunderstorms impacted central Texas on May 28, delivering intense rainfall, large hail, and damaging winds to the Austin metropolitan area.
The Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County EMS responded to multiple water rescues, including incidents on North Loop Boulevard, Guadalupe Street, Airport Boulevard, and Steck Avenue. One recovery operation was initiated, though it is unclear if it was due to a fatality.
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According to the National Weather Service Office in Austin/San Antonio, some local rain gauges recorded 51–76 mm (2–3 inches) of rainfall within one hour in the early morning. Total rainfall amounts of 76–102 mm (3–4 inches) were reported in the region.
Hailstones, some measuring up to 7 cm (2.75 inches) in diameter (comparable to the size of baseballs), led to extensive property damage, including shattered windows, dented vehicles, and damaged infrastructure. Residential areas in northern and eastern Austin reported widespread damage to roofs, skylights, and exterior siding, with insurance claims expected to rise substantially in the coming days.
Significant damage was also reported at the University of Texas’s UFCU Disch-Falk Field, where the outfield and stadium facilities were struck by hailstones measuring between 4.4 and 7 cm (1.75 and 2.75 inches) in diameter. In downtown Austin, glass panels near the top of the Texas Capitol rotunda were broken during the storm.
Numerous vehicles were damaged across the city, with reports of cracked windshields and body dents concentrated in areas where the largest hailstones, up to 7 cm (2.75 inches), were observed.
Flooding caused multiple road closures, including parts of Interstate 35. The intersection of U.S. Highway 281 and Brook Hollow Boulevard was flooded, with several vehicles struggling to pass through the floodwaters. Road closures were also reported in Bexar County, including the San Antonio area.
