Weather in Texas can change in a flash -- tranquil to severe, sometimes all in the same day. From severe droughts to flash flooding and even severe storms and hurricanes -- weather phenomena can affect each corner of the Lone Star State, making Texas a unique weather playground.
"Texas naturally has some of the most severe weather there is in the country, and North America for sure," said John Lewis.
Austin native Lewis is the director and writer of "Wild Texas Weather," a new film highlighting Mother Nature's beauty and fury in Texas. It's showing at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin.
The film includes rare historic footage, as well as video of weather events of the last several years. Most of the footage was shot and sent in by television stations from across the state.
"We were able to get hurricanes from the coast, flash flooding from here in Central Texas, dust storms from the panhandle and tornadoes from all over," Lewis said.
The 1997 Jarrell F-5 Tornado is featured in the film. The video was shot by KVUE Chief Photojournalist Scott Guest 12 years ago.
This isn't just an educational film, it's an interactive experience. With strobe lights to depict lightning, sprinklers and fans from the ceiling when thunderstorms roll by, and three screens to give you a panorama view.
Elementary students from Houston visiting the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum are some of the very first to see the new film and experience the lights and special effects.
"A lot of times they scream there heads off, which we like to hear them get excited about it," Lewis said.
"What we hope is, we have 130,000 kids that come through the Spirit Theater every year. And for the last eight years, they've only been seeing the "Star of Destiny" presentation. So we're hoping we will get that many to see the "Wild Texas Weather" show, and that will spur their interest in weather and their pride in Texas," Lewis added.
