Tornado Strikes Memorial Northwest as Storms Bash Houston on November 24, 2025

At 1:15 p.m. CST on November 24, 2025, a tornado ripped through the Memorial Northwest neighborhood just outside Houston, leaving more than 100 homes damaged and roads choked with debris—yet miraculously, no one was hurt. The storm, part of a violent line of supercells fueled by a rare November cold front slamming into Gulf moisture, was one of the most intense to strike the region in over a decade. The National Weather Service Houston, located at 9030 Broadway St. in Pearland, had issued a tornado watch just hours earlier, then upgraded it to a warning after radar detected rotation near Montgomery and San Jacinto counties. By mid-afternoon, the storm had already dumped nearly an inch of rain and sent wind gusts up to 50 mph across the metro area.

When the Sky Turned Green

Residents in Memorial Northwest described the sky turning an eerie green around 1:00 p.m., followed by a low, rumbling roar that sounded like a freight train barreling through trees. Many grabbed their phones and rushed to social media—Facebook and Twitter lit up with videos of roofs peeled back, cars flipped onto their sides, and power lines snapping like twigs. Mark Herman, constable for Harris County Precinct 3, confirmed the damage through drone footage posted publicly: shingles scattered across lawns, fences flattened, and one home’s entire back wall gone. "We’ve seen wind damage before," Herman said. "But this? This was different. It had that signature twist—the kind you only see once or twice a lifetime." The Houston Fire Department dispatched five members of its saw team to clear fallen trees from streets in the affected zone, including Memorial Drive and Westview. No injuries were reported, thanks in part to repeated emergency alerts and the fact that many residents had already taken shelter after the 11:45 a.m. radar update from National Weather Service Houston warned of "strong thunderstorms with possible tornadoes."

Why November? The Hidden Danger in Houston’s Weather Calendar

November is statistically Houston’s most dangerous month for tornadoes. While most people associate tornadoes with spring, the region’s unique geography makes late fall just as volatile. Cold fronts from the north crash into the warm, humid air rising off the Gulf of Mexico—creating the perfect storm ingredients: wind shear, instability, and moisture. The Houston Chronicle documented that 27 of the 50 most destructive tornadoes in the Houston area since 1950 occurred in November. One of the worst, an F4 tornado in Channelview in 1992, killed three people and destroyed nearly 400 homes. Meteorologist Eric Berger of Space City Weather noted that Monday’s system followed a familiar pattern: "The warm air was pushing 85 degrees by midday—tied for the warmest November 24 since 1910. That heat, combined with the approaching front, created explosive energy. The storms didn’t just form—they detonated."

Airport Chaos and the Ripple Effect

The storm’s timing couldn’t have been worse for travelers. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) both reported delays of over two hours during the evening rush. Airlines canceled 47 flights total, mostly outbound, as winds exceeded 45 mph and visibility dropped below a mile. FOX 26 Houston, branding itself as "Your Gulf Coast Weather Authority," advised travelers to expect cancellations through midnight, with potential knock-on effects across the Southwest. "This isn’t just about one tornado," said meteorologist Jeff Lindner, Meteorologist-in-Charge of National Weather Service Houston. "It’s about how climate patterns are shifting. We’re seeing stronger cold fronts in November, more moisture pulled from the Gulf, and more frequent explosive development. The old rulebook is being rewritten."

What Comes Next? A Cold Front, Then Thanksgiving Calm

By Tuesday night, a stronger front swept through, bringing temperatures down from the mid-80s to the mid-50s by Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service Houston predicted dry, clear skies for Thanksgiving Day—November 27, 2025—with highs near 68°F and humidity levels not seen since October. "It’ll feel like a reset," said Eric Berger. "People will be outside grilling, kids will be chasing leaves. And they won’t remember how close we came to tragedy on Monday." But the calm won’t last. Rain is expected to return by Saturday, November 29, with another system building over the Gulf. The National Weather Service is already monitoring it as a potential "early Christmas storm"—a rare but not unheard-of event in southeastern Texas.

Behind the Scenes: How Alerts Save Lives

Despite the destruction, the lack of fatalities speaks volumes. National Weather Service Houston sent out 14 separate alerts via its Twitter account @NWSHouston, each updated with radar imagery, timing, and specific counties at risk. The agency’s warning system—distinguishing between "watch" (conditions favorable) and "warning" (tornado detected)—worked precisely as designed. Emergency managers in Harris and Montgomery counties activated sirens, sent text alerts, and partnered with local radio stations to broadcast continuous updates. "We’ve trained for this," said Rustin Rawlings, spokesperson for the Houston Fire Department. "But seeing the community respond? That’s what makes the difference. People didn’t wait for the sirens. They saw the sky and moved."