Severe weather hit Austin, Texas on Wednesday evening, with roads quickly turning into rivers due to a powerful thunderstorm.
The Texas capital was lashed by heavy rain and hail, creating tense moments that were captured on video. Kelly Gray was caught in her car with another person as the streets flooded rapidly. Amidst the chaos, Gray recorded a video clip describing the sudden onset of rain and hail. The sound of hail pelting the vehicle was accompanied by rushing water alongside the car, prompting Gray to express her dismay at the gushing water all around them. Gray and her companion sought refuge in their car beneath a small tree in a car park.
At approximately 6:30 p.m. local time, the Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service Office issued a severe thunderstorm warning. Tragically, one person lost their life in the flash flooding, and the fire department conducted nine water rescues. Power outages affected thousands of customers. Gray and her companion managed to endure the worst of the storm in their sheltered vehicle.
Afterwards, Gray filmed a basketball court and pavement covered in hailstones. The National Weather Service reported hail the size of golf balls in and around Travis County, describing the scene as a combination of snow, tornado and flood. Gray aptly summarised the situation, stating: ‘It looks like it snowed. It looked like a snowstorm, tornado and flood had had a baby.’
