Tropical Storm Beryl: Live updates: Houston area in path

Tropical Storm Beryl headed toward the Texas coast Sunday as forecasters warned the storm would regain hurricane strength and make landfall early Monday, potentially as a Category 2.

Beryl’s effects — such as strong winds, heavy rain and rough seas — will begin to make landfall on the Texas coast well before then, the National Hurricane Center warned. “Winds are expected to first reach tropical storm strength by late today (Sunday), making outdoor preparations difficult or dangerous,” the center said.

In the most extreme cases, parts of Texas could see more than a foot of rain and winds reaching 100 miles per hour.

“People should prepare for the possibility of a Category 2 hurricane,” hurricane expert Eric Blake wrote in a midday weather update from the National Hurricane Center. “Preparations should be completed as soon as possible,” the center said.

Category 2 hurricanes have extremely dangerous winds of 96 to 110 mph and are expected to cause significant damage.

Along the path of the storm, several local authorities asked people to evacuate before the storm hit. Residents boarded up windows, stocked up on supplies and some stocked up on gas before fleeing the city.

The storm made landfall on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula Friday morning, after hitting the Caribbean and Jamaica earlier in the week, killing at least 11 people.

Will Beryl hit Houston?

The country’s fourth largest city is in Beryl’s sights.

The Houston metro area, particularly the western half of the metro area, will see “significant impacts in the form of strong, high winds in addition to heavy rain,” meteorologist Eric Berger said on the SpaceCityWeather blog.

Rainfall could reach 15 inches in some areas, the weather service warned, which could lead to flash flooding.

Preparations for Beryl extend beyond the coast

In the absence of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is on an official trip to Asian countries, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued a disaster declaration for 120 central and eastern counties and warned residents that Beryl’s dangers extend beyond its powerful winds.

Inland communities such as College Station and Texarkana, on the Arkansas border and hundreds of miles from the coast, could see heavy rain and flash flooding.

Beryl’s path continues to the Great Lakes, not as a hurricane but as a tropical storm. “The rain bands and squalls to the east and southeast of Beryl’s center will contain a lot of rotational motion, which can spawn tornadoes,” said Dan Pydynowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist.

Other states likely to see heavy rain through Tuesday include Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, AccuWeather said.

Texas officials advised residents living off the coast to stock up on gas, stock up on food and water and stay connected to family and friends. Patrick also advised them to stay informed about the latest news and limit their travel starting Monday.

Where is Tropical Storm Beryl?

As of 2 p.m. EDT, the center of Beryl was located about 165 miles southeast of Corpus Christi in the Gulf of Mexico, moving northwest at 10 mph. It was expected to continue moving northwestward throughout the day Sunday, then north-northwestward overnight Sunday into Sunday.

Forecasters expect it to make landfall on the Texas coast early Monday after strengthening to at least a Category 1 hurricane.

Hurricane, tropical storm and storm surge watches and warnings have been issued along the Texas Gulf Coast, the hurricane center said. Storm surge in Texas could reach up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) from Mesquite Bay to Sargent and Matagorda Bay.

Tornadoes are possible Sunday, and expected rainfall totals are between 5 and 10 inches, with up to 15 inches in some locations.

AccuWeather Meteorologist Carl Erickson warned of high winds: “Category 1 hurricane winds range from 74 to 95 mph and can down trees, cause widespread power outages and significant property damage. Power outages could last for days or even weeks in the hardest-hit areas.”

Beryl Storm Tracker

This forecast track shows the most likely path of the storm center. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the storm center is likely to move outside the cone up to 33% of the time.

Texas Gulf Coast Town on Beryl’s Path Prepares, Some Flee

Kevin Maredia had only a few minutes to speak on a busy Sunday morning at the gas station and convenience store he runs in Palacios, Texas, a Gulf Coast town of 4,000 on Beryl’s way.

Worried motorists stopped to fill up their tanks, often at the Palacios exit to escape the storm’s fury. Others were stocking up in anticipation of a Category 2 hurricane making landfall on U.S. shores.

The store, located about 10 blocks from a bay likely to withstand Beryl’s strongest winds, has had its windows covered with plywood and will close at 7 p.m. Sunday instead of the usual midnight, Maredia said.

The storm was a common topic of conversation, he said, sensing concern and even panic among some customers.

“People leave because they think the wind is coming from that direction,” he said, “so they leave town.”

Could Beryl quickly intensify into a Category 2 hurricane?

Forecasters predict that Beryl could take advantage of the light winds and warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico to quickly regain hurricane status Sunday afternoon or evening.

The latest forecast from the hurricane center officially predicts Beryl will become a Category 1 storm again. But under ideal conditions, the center warns, Beryl could even become a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 95 mph or more. The storm could experience a period of rapid intensification in the hours before landfall, with winds increasing to more than 35 mph.

Similar rapid increases in winds occurred early in Beryl’s voyage, as she approached the Windward Islands and after her crossing to the Caribbean.

What is the difference between a Category 1 hurricane and a Category 2 hurricane?

Category 1 hurricanes have winds of 74 to 95 mph. Extreme winds can cause damage: roofs, shingles, vinyl siding, and gutters on well-built wood-frame homes can be damaged. Large tree limbs can break, and trees with shallow roots can be toppled. Significant damage to power lines and utility poles can cause power outages that can last for a few days or even several days.

Category 2 hurricanes have winds of 96 to 110 mph. Extremely dangerous winds will cause considerable damage: well-built timber-framed homes could suffer significant roof and siding damage. Many shallow-rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted and will block many roads. Near-total power outages are likely, including outages lasting several days to weeks.

Where will Beryl land?

As the storm approaches land, the strongest winds are expected to be concentrated around Matagorda Bay, but any eastward shift in the track could also shift the strongest winds, the National Weather Service in Houston said. The weather service expects tropical storm-force winds all the way to the I-10 corridor, which could lead to large areas of power outages, downed trees and roof damage.

Latest news from Beryl:

Coast Guard says storm could shut down oil ports:The Coast Guard has warned of the possible closure of Texas ports from Corpus Christi to Houston and has begun restricting shipping traffic due to the passage of the Beryl. The port closures could temporarily halt crude oil shipments to refineries and motor fuels from those plants.
Tornadoes are possible on Sunday: Landfalling tropical storms and hurricanes often generate a tornado threat in the form of rain bands as they approach the coast and move inland, Weather.com said, and Beryl will be no exception. The Storm Prediction Center said a few tornadoes will be possible along the central and upper Texas coast into southwest Louisiana as Tropical Storm Beryl approaches.

Beryl already a record holder

On Monday, Beryl made landfall on the island of Carriacou in Grenada as a Category 4 hurricane, wreaking havoc on the southern Caribbean islands, destroying hundreds of buildings and killing at least six people. Later Monday night, it became the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record. Driven by record-breaking ocean temperatures, Beryl’s rapid strengthening has stunned experts.

Beryl was also the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record – before weakening to Category 3 on Monday – and is the earliest major June hurricane east of the Lesser Antilles on record.

If the storm makes landfall as a hurricane, Beryl would be the 10th hurricane to do so in July, Colorado State University research scientist Phil Klotzbach wrote on X.

‘Avoid the Rush’ and Be Prepared, Advises Texas Hardware Store Owner

Shop now, not later. That’s what Raoul Martinez, a hardware store owner in Corpus Christi, Texas, reminded his customers Saturday as Beryl turned a corner into town.

“CHARGE ALL BATTERIES in your home,” Martinez posted on the No Hassle Tools and More Facebook page early Saturday. “Have a chainsaw handy to cut through any debris. Mow your lawn now so it doesn’t grow like crazy. Tie down kids’ play areas and pet houses.”

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