The 2025 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo kicked off with a blustery start, leading to the closure of nine rides due to strong winds on Tuesday afternoon.
Weather Challenges at NRG Park
A line of powerful storms passed through Southeast Texas early Tuesday, bringing wind gusts of nearly 40 mph at nearby William P. Hobby Airport. Later in the afternoon, gusts reached close to 50 mph, prompting additional safety measures.
“Since it was this morning, it was just really stand-by mode,” said Mike DeMarco, Chief Show Operations Officer. “We battened down the hatches and let the system pass through.”
Safety Protocols for Rides and Structures
The Houston Rodeo takes extensive precautions to ensure visitor safety. While smaller tents may only withstand winds of 40-50 mph, larger food trailers and some rides can handle hurricane-force winds. However, there are strict shutdown thresholds:
- At 45 mph winds, crews begin pulling riders off attractions like the Ferris wheel.
- At 50+ mph winds, evacuations from tents and other vulnerable structures take place.
Data from multiple sources, including wind speeds, radar, and lightning trackers, is continuously fed into the Rodeo’s command center to help operators make real-time safety decisions. Some rides even have built-in weather sensors that provide live data to ride operators.
Guests Wait for Better Weather
Many visitors took a cautious approach, waiting out the rain before heading to the event. “We just waited till the rain stopped,” said attendee Tracy King, who hoped for lighter crowds after the storm passed.
With sunshine returning, the Houston Rodeo is back in full swing, ensuring safety remains a top priority while guests enjoy the festivities.
