Storm system with 100 mph winds kills 7 in greater Houston area

May 18 (UPI) — At least seven people died as a storm system with winds reaching 100 mph and a tornado ripped through the Houston area Thursday and threatened the Southeast.

“This type of wind is something we haven’t seen in Harris County since Hurricane Alicia in 1983,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo told reporters Friday.

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The National Weather Service reported an EF-1 tornado with wind speeds up to 110 mph in Cyprus, while straight line winds were recorded with wind speeds up to 100 mph.

Downed trees killed two people and a crane accident claimed the life of another, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena told media Thursday.

Four more deaths were reported Friday, including a man who died while trying to move a fallen utility pole, a woman whose trailer caught fire after lightning struck, and another man found dead after trying to use his truck to fuel its oxygen tank after its electricity failed.

The bad weather left a million residents without electricity, of whom around 550,000 remained powerless on Saturday morning. The storm system also damaged several skyscrapers.

Cleaning up storm damage will be made more difficult with high temperatures around 90 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service recommends caution when cleaning up storm damage due to the prolonged power outage that could last several days amid high heat and humidity.