More Severe Storms Slam the Plains; Threat Shifting East

More severe weather expected throughout the weekend.

ByABC News
April 18, 2015, 7:05 PM

— -- Storms slowly moving through Texas early Saturday left thousands without power and caused flash flooding as they dumped large amounts of rain in several counties.

The city of Pasadena, about 15 miles southeast of Houston, received 3.6 inches of rain in 30 minutes late Friday with the city of Houston receiving nearly three inches of rain. About 78,000 customers were without power in the metro area early Saturday.

More than 40 homes in La Porte, a small city nearby, flooded after taking on more than a half foot of water. Some roads in the area were completely undriveable due to the high water levels.

A lightning strike caused an explosion and fire at a shale oil tank facility in Karnes County, near San Antonio, said the sheriff's office. No injuries were reported.

The heavy rain ended across the Houston area Saturday morning, but another round of thunderstorms, including some severe storms, threatened Texas and much of the Plains once again on Saturday evening.

PHOTO: Saturday evening severe thunderstorms stretch from central Texas up to Nebraska.
On Saturday evening, the threat for severe thunderstorms stretches from central Texas up to Nebraska.

As of 7 p.m. Saturday, there were more than three dozen reports of severe weather from Texas up to Nebraska and northeastern Colorado. The majority of the reports were of large hail, however tornadoes were also reported in Colorado and Texas.

Heading into Sunday, the threat for severe weather will push farther east affecting more than 50 million Americans from eastern Texas to the Carolinas. The main threat from any severe storms that develop will be large hail and damaging wind gusts, and flash flooding. However, an isolated tornado is possible as well.

PHOTO: Sunday's threat for severe weather impacts Americans from eastern Texas to the Carolinas.
On Sunday, the threat for severe weather shifts east impacting over 50 million Americans from eastern Texas to the Carolinas.

Some good news for Houston and the western Gulf Coast region is that the heaviest of the rain has now pushed east, with New Orleans to the Florida Panhandle in for round of heavy rain through the remainder of the weekend.

PHOTO: Expected rainfall forecast through the morning of April 20, 2015.
Expected rainfall forecast through the morning of April 20, 2015.

The unsettled weather, including some heavy downpours will begin to push north on Sunday bring rain to Chicago ad the Ohio Valley. By Monday morning, heavy rain will have an impact on the morning commute form Washington D.C. to New York.