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In Houston, Texas (KTRK) – What began as a typical Friday afternoon outing at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo quickly turned into a severe weather event, prompting meteorologists to declare a Weather Alert Day in anticipation of severe storms later in the afternoon.
Around 4 p.m., the predicted storms arrived and moved towards the Houston area, catching many rodeogoers off guard. reporter Nick Natario was live at NRG Park when the sky darkened, and penny-sized hail began pelting down on attendees, sending them scrambling for shelter. The heavy rainfall nearly obscured visibility for the camera crew.
Rodeogoers recounted their experiences, with Stephanie Saldana describing how the sudden downpour caused her to lose her food items as she sought shelter. The carnival grounds were quickly inundated with standing water, prompting officials to shut down carnival rides until conditions improved.
Although RodeoHouston had contingency plans in place for severe weather, no announcements were made on the grounds. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries despite the challenging conditions.
At 5:16 p.m., RodeoHouston announced via Twitter that the carnival would remain closed until the weather cleared. However, the stadium gates opened on time, and the rodeo commenced at 6:45 p.m. About thirty minutes later, the carnival began to reopen some attractions as the storm passed.
As attendees donned ponchos over their Western attire, spirits remained high despite the weather disruption. The final weekend of Rodeo Houston 2024, marking the end of spring break week, featured the Jonas Brothers as the evening’s entertainers.
With the anticipation of more severe weather, Chief Forecaster David Tillman emphasized the importance of staying weather-aware for those attending the rodeo. RodeoHouston also provided insights into their preparation protocols for severe weather, ensuring the safety and well-being of attendees and staff alike.