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Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Matagorda, Texas, early Monday morning. The storm brought a dangerous storm surge and strong winds, knocking out power for more than half a million homes and businesses.
Beryl’s center hit the coast around 4 a.m. Central Time, about 85 miles southwest of Houston. With top winds of 80 mph, Beryl moved north at 12 mph, the National Weather Service reported.
Houston Faces Flooding After Beryl Strikes Coast
High waters quickly closed roads in Houston, which had already been hit hard by recent storms. By Monday morning, over 750,000 customers were without power, mostly around Houston, according to CenterPoint Energy.
The storm also caused over 1,000 flight cancellations at Houston’s two airports, reported FlightAware. Beryl continued to pour heavy rain on Houston and was expected to bring damaging winds to East Texas, near Louisiana, as it moved north.
“Beryl’s moving inland, but this is not the end of the story yet,” said Jack Beven, a senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center.
Warnings and Evacuations
Beryl strengthened into a hurricane again late Sunday after weakening during its deadly path through Mexico and the Caribbean. The hurricane warning remained in effect for the Texas coast from Mesquite Bay north to Port Bolivar.
The National Weather Service predicted that Beryl would weaken to a tropical storm on Monday and a tropical depression by Tuesday. The storm was expected to move over eastern Texas on Monday and then through the lower Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Texas coast residents boarded up windows and evacuated beach towns. Officials warned of power outages and flooding but were concerned that not enough people had evacuated. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, acting governor while Gov. Greg Abbott traveled overseas, noted the lack of evacuees.
“We’ve looked at all of the roads leaving the coast, and the maps are still green,” Patrick said. “We don’t see many people leaving.”
Preparation and Safety Measures
Tropical storm winds extended 115 miles from the center, and the hurricane center warned of possible flash flooding in parts of Texas and Arkansas. Residents and business owners along the coast prepared for the storm but were unsure about its intensity.
In Port Lavaca, Jimmy May boarded up his electrical supply company and was not worried about the storm surge. He recalled his business escaping flooding in a previous hurricane.
Nearby, Percy Roberts helped his neighbor secure a boat as heavy winds rolled in. “This is actually going to be the first hurricane I’m going to be experiencing,” said Ken Waller, feeling nervous but safe.
Beryl’s path of destruction through the Caribbean left at least 11 dead. The storm’s rapid intensification signaled what the Atlantic hurricane season could expect.
Texas officials warned residents along the coastline to prepare for flooding, heavy rain, and strong winds. The hurricane warning extended from Baffin Bay to Sargent. Beryl posed a significant threat to Houston, already battered by recent storms.
Potential storm surges of 4 to 7 feet were forecast around Matagorda. Warnings extended to areas previously hit by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent emergency responders and resources along the coast in preparation.
Voluntary evacuations were called in low-lying areas, and beach camping was banned. Tourists were urged to move recreational vehicles from coastal parks. Beryl previously caused destruction in Jamaica, Barbados, and other Caribbean islands, resulting in several deaths.
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Looking Ahead After Beryl
As Beryl moves inland, residents and officials remain vigilant. Lastly, the storm’s impact will continue to be felt as it travels through Texas and beyond, bringing heavy rain and potential flooding to multiple states.
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