Hurricane Beryl is rapidly intensifying as it approaches the Texas coast, with landfall expected early Monday morning between Corpus Christi and Galveston. As of late Sunday night, Beryl had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph and was located about 100 miles east of Corpus Christi, on the verge of reaching hurricane strength. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasts that Beryl could strengthen to a Category 2 hurricane before making landfall.The storm is expected to bring life-threatening conditions to the Texas coast, including storm surge of up to 7 feet, heavy rainfall of 6 to 8 inches (with some areas potentially receiving up to 10 inches), and hurricane-force winds. Flash flood watches have been issued for a wide swath of the Texas coast, and the threat of flooding extends inland to eastern Texas and parts of Arkansas.Texas officials, including Acting Governor Dan Patrick, have urged coastal residents to heed evacuation orders and prepare for potentially deadly conditions. Over 120 counties are under a disaster declaration, and authorities have mobilized over 2,000 emergency responders to deal with the storm’s aftermath. Houston Mayor John Whitmire warned that conditions will become tense around midnight and advised people to stay away from flooded roads.The storm has already left a trail of destruction across the Caribbean and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, causing at least 11 deaths. Experts note that Beryl’s rapid intensification, with winds increasing by 35 mph in just 24 hours, is a sign of the unusually warm waters in the Atlantic and Caribbean, potentially indicating what to expect for the rest of the hurricane season.Residents in the affected areas are advised to complete storm preparations quickly and find a safe place to shelter through Monday, as hazardous conditions are expected to persist even after the storm passes. Officials are warning of widespread power outages that could exacerbate dangerous heat conditions in the coming days.
Key points
- Hurricane Beryl is expected to make landfall in Texas early Monday as a Category 1 or 2 hurricane.
- The storm is forecast to bring life-threatening storm surge, heavy rainfall, and strong winds to the Texas coast.
- Texas officials have issued evacuation orders and are urging residents to take the storm seriously.
- Beryl’s rapid intensification is linked to unusually warm waters, potentially indicating a trend for the hurricane season.
Contradictions👾While most sources agree on the severity of the threat, there are slight discrepancies in the projected rainfall amounts, with estimates ranging from 6-8 inches to up to 10 inches in some areas.
