BEAUMONT, Texas — With only a few days left of 2023, let's take a look back at some of Southeast Texas' most monumental weather events from the year.
In January, the Marcantel brothers’ lives were changed forever when the Bridge City and Orangefield communities were struck by unusual winter-time tornadoes.
"The alert hit on my brothers phone and it hit so quick. My sister-in-law ran and screamed to the bedroom. He was trying to get to her, and it all happened so quick," the brothers previously told 12News.
Those tornadoes packed winds in excess of 100 mph, leaving behind multiple paths of destruction and dozens of residents in dismay.
Luckily, there were no fatalities, but it took months for the communities to recover.
In April, Beaumont's north end was flooded by heavy rain. The flooding was further exacerbated by construction nearby, inconveniencing dozens of residents.
"It really upsets me to see something like this after all these years,” Jeff Trust, Plant Road resident, previously told 12News. "As you can see, my little shed is underwater."
In June, another round of storms rolled through Southeast Texas, snapping trees and powerlines and knocking out power for more than 30,000 residents.
The summer of 2023 was one of the hottest and driest on record, with 99 consecutive days of temperatures being over 90 degrees.
The sweltering triple-digit heat accompanied by the dry weather conditions led to multiple wildfires and a drought crisis across the region.
12News had team coverage of the Shearwood Creek Fire in Jasper County, burning more then 3,000 acres and warranting mandatory evacuations.
The 22-inch rainfall deficit led to burn bans and water restrictions. Rainfall was so scarce that in September, dozens of Southeast Texans gathered together to pray for rain.
A slight increase in rain in October, November and December answered some prayers, although much of the region remains in an exceptional drought as of December of this year.
Only time will tell what mother nature has in store for 2024.