Multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms swept through the Greater Houston area beginning in the pre-dawn hours Saturday, knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers. Crews restored service to roughly 168,000 customers in the storms’ wake, just as the region turns its attention to hurricane season. NOAA’s new outlook calls for a below-normal 2026 Atlantic season, with eight to 14 named storms and three to six hurricanes, as El Niño conditions develop in the Pacific.

Below Normal Is Not No Risk

Forecasters are quick to note that quiet seasons still produce devastating landfalls. Some of history’s most destructive hurricanes struck in below-average years. Houston’s own weekend, when routine thunderstorms blacked out entire neighborhoods, shows the grid does not wait for a named storm to fail.

Preparing for the Season Ahead

• Inspect your standby generator and ensure it is ready to activate automatically if power is lost.
• Run a test cycle to confirm your system starts and transfers power properly.
• Plan for fuel supply and make sure natural gas or propane systems are fully connected and serviced.
• Consider an upgrade. Whole-home backup solutions from Generac and Kohler deliver seamless power protection during prolonged outages.

Stay Informed

NOAA will update its outlook in early August, ahead of the season’s historical peak. Prepare as if the forecast were above normal, because your home only experiences the storm that hits it.