The National Weather Service reported that Beryl made landfall on the Texas coast near Matagorda early Monday, bringing a dangerous storm surge and strong winds.
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Beryl hit Texas near Matagorda early Monday, bringing a dangerous storm surge and strong winds, the National Weather Service reported.
The storm made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane around 4 a.m. CST, 85 miles southwest of Houston. Beryl had top sustained winds of 80 mph and was moving north at 12 mph. It strengthened back into a hurricane late Sunday after weakening while devastating parts of Mexico and the Caribbean. Southern Texas experienced heavy rain and intensifying winds as Beryl approached.
A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Texas coast from Mesquite Bay to Port Bolivar.
Beryl is expected to weaken to a tropical storm by Monday and a tropical depression by Tuesday. It will likely turn northeast and increase speed Monday night and Tuesday.
The storm's center is expected to move over eastern Texas on Monday, then through the lower Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday. Texas residents boarded up windows and evacuated beach towns.
Officials warned of power outages and flooding. Concerns were raised about insufficient evacuations. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick noted, “We don’t see many people leaving.”
Tropical storm winds extended 115 miles from Beryl's center. The hurricane center warned of possible flash flooding in Texas and Arkansas.
In Port Lavaca, residents took precautions but remained uncertain about the storm’s intensity. Jimmy May, securing his business, wasn't too worried about the storm surge. Percy Roberts assisted a neighbor with boat preparations.
Beryl, the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, caused at least 11 deaths in the Caribbean. The storm's rapid intensification highlights the hot waters of the Atlantic and Caribbean.
Officials urged people along the coast to prepare for flooding, heavy rain, and wind. Houston faces potential heavy rain, with up to 10 inches expected in some areas.
Flight delays and cancellations occurred in Houston as Beryl neared. Corpus Christi officials advised visitors to leave early and residents to secure homes.
The White House announced FEMA's deployment of emergency resources along the coast. Several counties called for voluntary evacuations and banned beach camping.
Before Texas, Beryl hit Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane, toppling trees but causing no injuries. The storm also wrought destruction in Jamaica, Barbados, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, causing 11 deaths.
