Austin Energy Declares May Microburst Storm Third-Worst in Utility's History

Data published by Austin Energy shows over 100,000 of their customers were impacted by May's microburst storm. The power company named the storm the third-worst in the utility's history.

What is a microburst storm?

Microbursts are concentrated downdrafts that occur during thunderstorms, creating severe wind speeds and causing significant damage in affected areas. These extreme storms can often create wind conditions as hazardous as those of a moderate tornado.

Austin May storm, by the numbers

The storm hit Austin May 28, killing one person and hospitalizing at least two others. At the storm's peak, Austin Energy reported that over 72,000 customers were affected, and a total of at least 124,000 customers saw some extent of service disruption throughout the storm. Austin's utility infrastructure was also heavily damaged. The utility provider replaced 91 power poles, 52 transformers and 32,283 feet of overhead cable in the aftermath of the storm.

How did the May storms compare to past Austin storms?

In a press release, Austin Energy said the May microburst was the third-worst storm in the utility's history. In terms of impact on utility infrastructure, only the 2023 Winter Storm Mara did more damage than the May storm.