Powerful storms unloaded flooding rainfall that swept away vehicles and triggered evacuations, delivered hail the size of softballs and spun up at least one damaging tornado in Texas Thursday.

Satellite imagery showed lightning-packed tornadic storms sweeping over the Texas Panhandle on May 1, as the National Weather Service warned of possible tornadoes. Credit: CSU/CIRA & NOAA via Storyful

Mandatory evacuations were ordered in parts of Texas, and residents in Harris County, home to Houston, were told to be ready to stay put for days after heavy rain caused flooding.

Severe weather in Southeast Texas has caused flooding along the Trinity and San Jacinto rivers. Communities are being evacuated due to urgent safety concerns.

A line of severe thunderstorms was moving through the South Plains and Panhandle early Wednesday evening, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and the threat of tornadoes.

Torrential rain is inundating southeastern Texas, forcing schools to cancel classes and closing numerous highways around Houston.

Heavy rain in parts of Texas that have already been soaked by recent storms is raising the threat of flooding.

Hurricane season could be soon getting worse in the Lone Star State due to rising sea levels on the coastlines. The study was conducted by a professor and state climatologist at Texas A&M University,