“Hurricane Beryl, a Category 1 storm with winds around 80 miles per hour (130 kilometers per hour), made landfall near Matagorda, between Houston and Corpus Christi, as confirmed by the US National Hurricane Center. Flash flooding is anticipated following the storm’s arrival, as reported in a notice at 4 a.m. local time.
Despite weakening from its previous Category 5 status last week, Beryl remains hazardous. Officials have issued cautionary advisories, oil companies have adjusted operations, and emergency responders have mobilized resources as the storm approaches Texas.
A hurricane warning is active for the coastal region from Mesquite Bay to Port Bolivar. The storm is forecasted to traverse eastern Texas on Monday, then progress through the Lower Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley by Tuesday and Wednesday.
Coastal areas are bracing for “large and destructive waves,” with storm surges potentially reaching up to seven feet (2.1 meters) in some locales, according to the NHC. Certain areas could also experience up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) of rainfall.
Early Monday, over 130,000 customers in Texas, mainly in coastal regions, were without power, according to poweroutage.us. Hundreds of flights at Houston-area airports were canceled, per FlightAware, a flight tracking service.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire emphasized the gravity of the situation during a briefing on Sunday, stating, “It’s all hands on deck. This storm has been unpredictable from the start.”
Regaining strength after passing the Yucatan Peninsula on Friday, Beryl benefitted from warm Gulf waters. “It poses a lethal threat to those in its path,” cautioned Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick during a briefing on Sunday, recalling the storm’s devastating impact in the Caribbean and Mexico, resulting in nine fatalities. “We do not want Texas to add to that toll.”
Hurricanes are classified based on sustained wind speeds of at least 74 miles per hour.
A state of emergency has been declared in 121 counties across Texas. Exxon Mobil Corp. announced adjustments to operations, while Freeport LNG curtailed liquefaction activities with plans to resume post-storm, according to a company spokesperson.”
