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Hurricane Beryl Moves North; Impacts on Houston Area Uncertain

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Updated July 5 at 6:10 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a hurricane warning from northern Mexico to Sargent, Texas, for Hurricane Beryl, meaning residents in those areas should review their hurricane plans and be prepared to act if a warning is issued.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also issued a disaster declaration for 40 counties at 4:25 p.m. July 5, including counties as far east as Matagorda and Wharton counties. Most counties in the Greater Houston area, including Fort Bend and Brazoria counties, which border Matagorda and Wharton counties, were not included in the July 5 declaration.

According to the NWS, Beryl is still expected to make landfall in South Texas Sunday night or early Monday morning. This story will continue to be updated as Beryl’s path becomes clearer.

Published at 3:54 p.m. on July 5

Hurricane Beryl’s path projections have shifted northward, increasing the risk of stronger winds, higher tides and heavier rain in the Houston area, according to a July 5 update from the National Weather Service.

It remains to be seen where and when Beryl will make landfall in Texas, but the latest projections show it could move north toward Matagorda Bay, said Dan Reilly, warning coordination meteorologist with the Houston/Galveston branch of the NWS.

The last

Beryl crossed the Yucatan Peninsula on July 5 and has weakened, Reilly said in a July 5 update. However, the storm has moved northward and could continue to move farther north as it strengthens to potentially become a Category 1 or 2 hurricane before making landfall in Texas Monday morning.

“Confidence is quite low in the intensity and track of this system,” Reilly said in a July 5 update. “With the steering currents as they are, slight shifts to the north and south will make a big difference in landfall and impacts.”

No hurricane, tropical storm or storm surge watches had been issued for the Houston area as of 3:30 p.m. July 5, but NWS officials said they planned to issue watches for lower/middle Texas later in the afternoon.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that he has raised the state’s emergency preparedness level to Level II, effective 10 a.m. July 5, and directed the Texas Department of Emergency Management to begin preparing response resources.

“Texas stands ready to rapidly deploy all available emergency response resources to assist communities at risk,” Abbott said in a statement. “Texas continues to closely monitor weather conditions to protect the safety and well-being of Texans.”

Texas General Land Office officials also announced July 5 that they are coordinating with local authorities in the storm’s path as well as state and federal partners to ensure all preparedness and response measures are in place.

In a July 5 news release, Red Cross officials encouraged coastal and inland residents to prepare for Hurricane Beryl. Preparations should include:

As more details about Beryl become available over the weekend, residents should keep the following definitions in mind:

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