Time to read: 8 minutes
Date: April 6, 2023
While most Texans hear the word “hurricane” or “hurricane season” many dismiss the idea that such a storm could be a threat or impact their daily lives. In reality, Texas is still greatly affected during this stormy season. Despite the high levels of sunlight and hot weather that the Lone-Star State is associated with, hurricane season definitely sends rough weather our way. While rare, some inland waterways can become swollen from the influx of water from the Atlantic, which tends to happen during hurricane season. In this article, we’re going to be looking at what hurricane season is like in Texas and what you should know about it.
When is Hurricane Season for Texas?
For Texas, hurricane season lands in mid-summer to early fall and officially begins on June 1st. Typically, the most turbulent months are August through September. This is one of the reasons that parts of Texas close to the coast (as well as central Texas) experience heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surge flooding. Hurricanes can and do sometimes make landfall on the Texas coast in the Gulf of Mexico. Even when they don’t, however, the sheer strength of the winds and rainfall cause heavy flooding and power losses.
Cities closer to the coast such as Galveston and Corpus Christi as well as cities like Houston are vulnerable to the heavy winds and rainfall that come with hurricanes. In many cases, Texans are often unconcerned about hurricane season. This might be attributed to the overall lack of rain and other weather conditions that Texans usually experience. In this way, the massive rainstorms that are blown through Texas during hurricane season come as a shock. After all, Texans are more likely to associate hurricanes with states like Florida, Mississippi, or Louisiana. Houstonians and Texans living in coastal cities may have a very different opinion on this though.
Let’s take a closer look at some examples from the past in major cities in Texas.
Houston
When Hurricane Harvey made landfall in 2017, Houston was hit with devastating floods. The flooding caused thousands of residents to evacuate the city, and many weren’t able to get out unscathed. The flood waters mixed with sewage, chemicals, garbage, and other hazardous materials. This caused many evacuees to need medical attention once they had arrived in other cities. Flights were completely grounded and widespread damage cost many people their homes.
Dallas
While Dallas itself hasn’t been affected directly by hurricanes like other cities, it is still affected in other ways. In light of the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Dallas prepared a mega shelter for the evacuees of the hurricane. Additionally, the storm caused a massive medical surge in the DFW area. This is due to the fact that thousands of Texans were forced to evacuate from Houston were injured or exposed to biohazards created by the flood.
Hurricane season may not always send massive amounts of rain to Dallas. Residents of the city, however, still wonder if something like the disaster in Houston could happen there. After all, Dallas itself gets a large number of thunderstorms, is at the very top of “flash flood alley”, and is in some ways just as vulnerable to flooding as Houston. Most cities the size of Dallas and Houston that are made up of asphalt and concrete give rainwater fewer places to go.
Grasslands and other natural areas that would soak up such rains are absent in places like this. Conditions like these are one of the reasons that Dallas seems to flood every time there is a major thunderstorm. In the end, it could just be a matter of time before the weather conditions are just right for a hurricane or tropical storm to send too much rain for Dallas to handle.
Austin
The City of Austin lies in Central Texas and gets incredible amounts of rainfall from hurricanes. While hurricanes don’t cause massive amounts of flooding or rainfall as often for Austin as other cities, it still gets a hefty dose of it from time to time from tropical storms. During Hurricane Harvey, Austin was hit with very large amounts of rainfall, but luckily it was over the course of enough time to avoid flooding issues.
Tropical storms in the past have caused substantial rainfall in Austin. In 2010, Tropical Storm Hermine brought Austin large amounts of rainfall as did similar storms in 1998. Most flooding in the Austin area isn’t caused by Hurricanes. However, the deluges of rainfall that they do bring is enough to warrant concern.
San Antonio
San Antonio lies in the southern portion of Texas and usually gets substantial rain from hurricanes and tropical storms. Hurricane Harvey brought areas in San Antonio incredible amounts of rain. Additionally, Tropical Storm Hermine caused flash flooding in some areas of south central Texas, which includes the San Antonio area. Even outside of hurricane season, tropical weather disturbances send massive rainfall to San Antonio. The city itself is in “flash flood alley” and is prone to flooding due to its proximity to the San Antonio River Basin.
How Can You Prepare for Hurricane Season
The preparations that you will make will likely reflect where you live in Texas. For example, preparations for someone living in a mobile home in a coastal city will be different from someone who dwells in an elevated home. With that in mind, here are some things to consider when preparing for the heavy rainfall, flooding, and literal hurricanes that come with the season.
According to the National Weather Service’s Hurricane guide for Rio Grande Valley and south Texas:
For Homes:
- Elevated homes are built in areas that are prone to flooding. However, this doesn’t always mean that you’re safe. Always check to see if you are in a flood or evacuation zone.
- Texans living in mobile homes must evacuate when instructed to do so.
- To prepare for a storm, you can trim trees and dead limbs as well as repair broken or damaged fences.
- Clear clogged rain gutters.
- Install hurricane shutters if possible to do so and make sure they are in solid, working condition.
Preparation before the storm:
- Stock up on emergency food, water and medicine.
- Put together a “go kit” made up of items that you cannot go without.
- Have an evacuation plan ready just in case you are given the order to do so.
Other areas in Texas that are further from the coast that receive tremendous amounts of rainfall. These areas can expect power outages, flooding, and heavy winds. While not as dangerous as the landfall area for the hurricane itself, the weather can still be dangerous.
What Else Can You Do to Prepare for a Hurricane?
Installing a solar powered system with backup batteries and a home standby generator can give you and your family the right tools for hurricane season to keep the power on. During hurricane season, the area that your power provider is in could become flooded, causing you to lose power. Backup batteries are often paired up with generators so that residents can have backup power for a much longer period of time. Your backup batteries charge themselves during the day. Then at night, you can use the stored power to run what you need in your home. If and when you run out of stored energy from your batteries, your home standby generator can take care of you from there.
When it comes to power outages caused by destructive weather, home standby generators are especially useful. As long as they are sized correctly by a professional, you can keep your home running for as long as you need. While this is all happening, you can use the IES Power+ app to seamlessly monitor your system!
Many of our customers have been through hurricanes before. They often cite the long term losses of power they cause as the reason they prioritize getting the right generator for the job. Check out what some of them are saying here!
Solar power systems are also incredibly sturdy. When it comes to stormy weather, they can handle almost anything that nature throws at them. In fact, when a solar community in Florida installed a gigantic solar array to power a town, it stood up to Hurricane Ian with minimal damage.
Make the Switch to Solar and Gain Stable, Clean Energy That Even Hurricanes Can’t Stop
History normally repeats itself. Want long-term energy stability, savings, and power that not even tough storms can shake? Being prepared is the best way to weather the storm. Taking steps now is the best way to plan out what sustainable energy looks like for you! A solar powered system with backup batteries and a home standby generator is the best way to save money and stress during hurricane season. On top of that, net metering and federal tax incentives make switching over to a solar power system more affordable than ever. Reach out to a solar consultant today!
We have made it our mission to be a source of truth in renewable energy. Our team believes that accurate solar and backup power education is the foundation for making the best decision when choosing a system that fits your needs.
If you are considering installing a backup generator or switching to solar for your home or business, reach out to us by going to our website, iestxsolar.com, or by giving us a call at (855) 447-6527.
:
