Elyse Smith

2 weeks ago | abc13.com | Elyse Smith

April 20 marked the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, an oil spill that claimed the lives of 11 people and spewed 135 million gallons of oil into the Gulf. That's equivalent to 4 million barrels. It's the , one that lasted for 87 days and impacted every facet of life along the Gulf Coast. Angela Schrift with Texas Parks and Wildlife described the oil spill as an "unprecedented event" for the Gulf Coast, one she knew would take years, if not decades, to recover from.

1 month ago | abc13.com | Elyse Smith

Big Bend Ranch State Park in north Texas reported the first sightings of bluebonnets in the state back in early February. By mid-March, those colorful clusters synonymous with spring started to pop up across southeast Texas. The weather, especially in the winter, can dictate how well those flowers bloom each spring and when. ABC13 Meteorologist Elyse Smith spoke to Karrie Calloway with Texas A&M AgriLife about how the weather impacts the annual bloom.

1 month ago | abc13.com | Elyse Smith

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- This past weekend was active for wildfires in the state, with over 30 reported across Texas. Gusty winds, dry air, and drought conditions allowed even what could have been controlled burns to spread in parts of the state. Four small wildfires occurred in southeast Texas in Brazoria, Polk, Walker, and Harris counties. Each was less than 20 acres in size and continued rather quickly. Monday afternoon, SkyEye flew over the burned area in West Harris County.

2 months ago | abc7.com | Elyse Smith

ByElyse SmithFriday, March 14, 2025 12:25AM"This is our time to shine:" The Cass-Barrington Academy is preparing for the World Championships in Europe, but first St. Patrick's Day. HOUSTON, Texas -- The students of the Cass-Barrington Academy of Irish Dance are looking forward to St. Patrick's Day. "This is our time to shine," Founder Erin Cass said. The academy is one of the largest Irish dance schools in southeast Texas, and dancers begin their training as early as age 5.

2 months ago | abc13.com | Elyse Smith

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Spring break is here, and so is allergy season. Over the weekend, Oak pollen counts increased tenfold, from a count of 59 on Friday, March 7, to over 400 on Monday, March 10. And these pollen counts will only go up from here, where tree pollen season could last through late April or early May. One reason is how mild Houston's climate is, even in the winter, allowing pollen season to begin early and last later into the year.