'It felt like a tornado,' Austin rocked by rare microburst, experts explain more

AUSTIN, Texas — Some Austinites had never heard the word “microburst” until Wednesday night, but they definitely felt one. A sudden, violent storm system swept across Central Texas, uprooting trees, knocking down power lines, and causing deadly flash flooding.

Now, cleanup efforts are underway across East and Central Austin, and weather experts are explaining the rare force behind the damage.

According to the National Weather Service, a microburst is a sudden and powerful blast of wind that drops straight down from a thunderstorm and spreads out rapidly when it hits the ground. Though they may not have the name recognition of a tornado, microbursts can be just as damaging—and far less predictable.

“The winds can get rather strong, like we saw yesterday, and they can be rather significant,” said Mack Morris, meteorologist with NWS San Antonio.

“Damaging winds and microbursts can often be just as concerning for people and their homes as a tornado might be.”

In Wednesday’s case, a long-track microburst developed from a supercell thunderstorm, carving a path of destruction more than 10 miles long, stretching from Hyde Park, through Central Austin, and continuing east past the airport.

The National Weather Service estimated wind speeds exceeded 80 miles per hour in some spots, with a damage path up to 2.5 miles wide.

ALSO| Power lines and transformers taken out by toppling trees during supercell thunderstorm

Doorbell camera footage from East Austin captured the exact moment the wind wall rushed in, sounding like a freight train and ripping through yards, streets, and rooftops.

“We ended up getting water inside our house, our neighbors did, and several on our street lost power,” said East Austin resident Chris Layden.

The damage ranged from flash flooding and blown-out windows to flattened trees and collapsed structures. In one case, a gas station canopy crumpled onto two vehicles. Glass shattered inside the Texas Capitol, and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport recorded wind gusts of 77 miles per hour.

At Boggy Creek Farm in East Austin, co-owner Jackson Geyer said the storm hit so fast, he barely had time to react.

“I thought a tornado had blown through because I’ve never seen fallen trees like this here at the farm in Austin,” Geyer said.

“I’m just glad that none of our tractors were crushed, and especially that my grandmother wasn’t crushed.”

One of the farm’s oldest trees—more than 100 years old—was ripped out of the ground and landed on top of their hoop houses, also known as greenhouses. The structural damage, combined with flooding and wind, threatens the farm’s upcoming growing season.

Ring video shared by the farm shows the exact moment the windstorm hit their garden, with debris flying and the screen going white from wind and rain in just seconds.

Now, Geyer says they’re dealing with thousands of dollars in damage. And while the forecast threatens more rain, hail, and wind in the coming days, he’s staying hopeful.

“I think the weather will pass us, maybe. I’d like that.”

Thursday night, CBS Austin Chief Meteorologist Chikage Windler is tracking another round of storms expected to move through the area. Forecasters warn the incoming system could bring additional hail, heavy rain, and damaging wind gusts, particularly dangerous for neighborhoods still recovering and homes still without power.

Officials urge residents to:

• Avoid low-water crossings
• Keep phones and power banks charged
• Secure outdoor items that could blow away
• Stay weather aware, especially overnight

Austin Energy continues working around the clock to restore power, but has warned that outages could last several days in the hardest-hit areas.