Hurricane Beryl Tracker: What the Storm Has in Store for Houston, Texas

HOUSTON — Beryl regained Category 1 hurricane status as it approached the upper Texas coast and a tornado watch has been issued for parts of our region until 10 a.m. Monday.

According to a special 11 p.m. update, Beryl has regained Category 1 hurricane status with sustained winds of 75 mph. Pressure continues to drop, indicating additional strengthening overnight. Motion is north-northwest at 10 mph. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting Category 1 hurricane strength at landfall, somewhere near or just east of Matagorda Bay.

The worst of the storm is expected between 2 a.m. and 2 p.m. across much of southeast Texas. Conditions will deteriorate rapidly along the coast just after midnight. Houston is expected to see the worst of the rain and wind between 3 a.m. and 10 a.m. Areas north of Houston are expected to see the worst between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The KHOU 11 weather team has issued a severe weather alert for Sunday as Beryl approaches. Monday is also a severe weather alert. The biggest impact will occur between 1 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday. Tuesday was originally supposed to be a severe weather alert, but it was removed because models show Beryl moving out of the Houston area and into North Texas Tuesday morning. Click here for coverage in Spanish of tropical storm Beryl.

RECEIVE ALERTS: Download the KHOU 11 app to receive alerts when Beryl arrives

Storm surge forecasts have increased for the entire upper Texas coast, including Galveston. Sea surges of up to 6 feet (2 meters) will be possible along coastal areas near landfall. Galveston could experience storm surge of up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) overnight, including Galveston Bay. As a result, storm surge warnings are in effect for the entire coast, including all of Galveston Bay.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for all of Southeast Texas through Monday with a hurricane warning in effect for Galveston Island, Brazoria, Matagorda and Wharton counties.

A tornado watch is in effect until 10 a.m. for Harris, Montgomery, Galveston, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Chambers, Liberty and Matagorda counties.

RECEIVE ALERTS: Download the KHOU 11 app to receive alerts when Beryl arrives

Although Beryl will weaken once it makes landfall, the storm will begin to move more quickly on Monday. Therefore, no substantial weakening is expected before the storm moves through Houston Monday afternoon. Tropical storm-force winds of up to 70 mph are possible in the city of Houston by midday Monday. Stronger gusts, near 90 mph, are possible along the coast at landfall.

The good news is that conditions will improve rapidly on Monday night as Beryl moves away from the area. Conditions will dry out rapidly during the evening and the sun will even break through the clouds over much of the area. Tuesday looks much calmer, albeit warm, with the return of sunshine and maximum temperatures around 32°C.

As of 11 p.m. Sunday, Beryl was a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, moving north-northwest at 10 mph. National Hurricane Center Advisory in Spanish.

More than 120 counties in Texas have been declared in a state of disaster, including Harris, Ft. Bend, Galveston, Brazoria, Montgomery and more. You can see the full list of counties here.

Authorities called for voluntary evacuations in parts of Galveston, Matagorda and Brazoria counties.

On Sunday afternoon, the city of Quintana issued a mandatory evacuation order.

Matagorda County evacuations affect people living in or visiting areas along the coast, including residents of Sargent, Matagorda and Palacios.

The Galveston County order went into effect at 10 a.m. Sunday for residents and visitors west of 103rd Street not protected by the Galveston Seawall.

Brazoria County has called for voluntary evacuations of all low-lying areas south of the Intracoastal Canal, including Bryan Beach, the Village of Quintana, the Village of Surfside Beach, Follett’s Island and Treasure Island.

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season was shaping up to be an active one, with the University of Colorado and NOAA predicting well-above-normal numbers. In fact, NOAA’s forecast for the season was the most aggressive ever produced. Several factors, including record-high sea surface temperatures and a transition to La Niña by late summer, were behind the aggressive forecast. However, Hurricane Beryl is already breaking records before the peak of the season even arrives. Meteorologist Pat Cavlin listed the records the storm has already broken.