Texas battered by quarter-sized hail and heavy winds in Christmas Eve storm

What’s New?

Texas is being battered by huge hailstones the size of quarters, powerful winds of up to 65mph and thunderstorms on Christmas Eve.

Why It Matters

The winter storms come as many Americans traveled home just in time for the holidays.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicted a record-breaking year for holiday travel, with more than 119 million expected to hit the roads and the skies.

Last weekend was expected to be the busiest travel period, but Texans who left their travel to Christmas Eve may have been faced with hailstorms, flooded roadways and even potential tornadoes.

The storms are predicted to continue until Christmas Day, meaning Texans are likely in for a wet, not a white Christmas, this year.

What To Know

The National Weather Service (NWS) has placed much of Texas under severe thunderstorm warnings after a winter storm brought heavy rain and strong winds to the state today.

A flash flood warning was issued in the Fort Worth, Texas, area on Tuesday while a tornado warning was also issued for the southeast region of the state as forecasters warned of multiple tornadoes, winds of up to 65mph and hail of up to two inches diameter.

Many Texans have been sharing footage and images of large hailstones that landed in their backyards. So far, there have been no reports of serious damage from the hailstorm.

A ground stop was issued at Bush Intercontinental Airport on Tuesday afternoon amid the severe weather.

The NWS has also warned that the environment “will support a threat for supercells with isolated large hail. A marginal wind-damage threat may also develop along the more intense parts of the line.”

Supercells refer to rotating thunderstorms that can last for hours, travel hundreds of miles and often produce tornadoes.

What People Are Saying

National Weather Service said in a statement earlier today, “A line of strong to severe thunderstorms, capable of large hail and marginally severe gusts, is expected to develop late this afternoon into this evening across east-central Texas.”

One Cypress, Texas resident, who shared a video of huge hailstones bouncing off the ground in her backyard, wrote on X, “It is bonkers at my home right now in Cypress, TX. Suburb of Houston. Major hail and rain.”

Meredith Seaver, another Cypress, Texas, resident shared a picture of huge hailstones, and asked, “It’s a Christmas miracle?”

Forecaster Max Velocity said on X, “NASTY LINE OF STORMS will move into SE Texas tonight, including Houston! Damaging winds, hail, and a tornado will be possible. Santa will have to navigate around these storms!”

What Happens Next?

The storm’s heavy rain and strong winds are expected to continue until 5 a.m. CST.

The National Weather Service has placed regions of Texas under severe thunderstorm warnings until 8 p.m. CST, with severe thunderstorm watches issued for parts of Texas until 12 a.m. CST.

Light rain is expected on Christmas Day and through Thursday while another storm system is predicted to move into the region on Friday, bringing continued rain through Saturday.