Hurricane Beryl made landfall early Monday morning in Texas on the Matagorda Peninsula, about 85 miles southwest of Houston, causing at least four deaths and knocking power out to more than 2 million customers, officials said.
Beryl hit as a Category 1 storm, with winds reaching 80 mph. As of 10 a.m. CT, the National Hurricane Center had downgraded Beryl to a tropical storm. Its path will take it inland over eastern Texas.
According to the National Weather Service, Beryl is expected to "bring very heavy rain, damaging hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surge to the Texas coast."
Beryl has already traveled through the Caribbean as the earliest Category 5 storm ever recorded in the Atlantic, causing at least 11 deaths and widespread destruction. It then traveled across Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula and the Gulf of Mexico. Beryl is expected to weaken as it travels overland.
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER43 updates
Dylan Stableford
The latest on the storm
What happened
Hurricane Beryl made landfall as a Category 1 storm near Matagorda, Texas, early Monday.
It is the 10th hurricane on record to make landfall in Texas in July.
Beryl was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved inland, triggering flash floods and possible tornadoes.
More than 2.7 million customers lost power in the Houston area, and as of Monday evening the number was still about 2 million.
At least four deaths in Texas have been blamed on the storm so far.
What's next
Beryl is expected to weaken as it takes a turn toward the northeast and will soon be downgraded to a tropical depression.
The storm is expected to move through the Lower Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Weather forecasters and officials tracking Beryl are urging those in its path not to let their guard down.
Read more: Beryl knocks out power to more than 2 million, leaves 4 dead, after making landfall as Category 1 hurricane
Yahoo News Staff
Two more deaths from Beryl, Houston mayor says
Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced two more deaths from Beryl in an afternoon news conference. The deaths bring the total of those killed in the storm to at least four.
Whitmire said it was an "all hands on deck" situation for crews in the wake of the storm's destruction, and he urged residents to not venture outside if possible and to take care of their families and neighbors.
Chanelle Chandler
Flash flooding and tornadoes continue across western Louisiana and eastern Texas as conditions improve
A storm surge warning caused by elevated water levels remains in effect for the Galveston, Texas, area, including Galveston Bay, north of San Luis Pass to Sabine Pass, which is east of Houston, according to the National Hurricane Center. There will still be considerable flash flooding throughout Monday night across some of the Upper Texas Coast and East Texas.
A tropical storm warning is also in effect for the Texas oast from north of Port Bolivar to Sabine Pass.
Maximum sustained winds have decreased to about 45 mph, with higher wind gusts of 56 mph reported near Sabine Pass.
4 pm CDT - #Beryl continues to produce flash flooding and tornadoes across eastern Texas and western Louisiana. Here are the latest Key Messages. Visit https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ for details. pic.twitter.com/xVYw9gD8E3
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 8, 2024
Chanelle Chandler
Beryl's center moving out of southeast Texas; cleanup begins
The center of Tropical Storm Beryl is moving northeast, out of southeast Texas, as of 3 p.m. CT, according to the National Weather Service center in Houston.
Conditions are reportedly improving as "light to moderate rain" continues farther inland. Cleanup in the region has begun following widespread damage.
Radar Update 3:00 PM: the “center” of Tropical Storm Beryl appears to be almost out of SE TX. Bands of light to moderate rain will continue across inland portions of the region…with the stronger bands offshore. #txwx pic.twitter.com/BhT3Z5EVmc
— NWS Houston (@NWSHouston) July 8, 2024
Chanelle Chandler
Internet connectivity down in Houston area; Comcast offers hotspots
Internet connectivity has been disrupted in the Houston area due to widespread power outages, according to Houston's NBC affiliate.
Comcast has offered free Wi-Fi hotspots in the region to help support residents.
See AlsoStorms move out of Milwaukee, southern Wisconsin counties; Janesville begins to assess tornado damagePower outage at Belvidere North cancels Monday summer schoolBeryl power outage updates: More than 98,000 Texas electricity customers remain without power a week after BerylHere's how to take advantage:
View the hotspot location map at wifi.xfinity.com or download the Xfinity app from the App Store or Google Play.
Select the network name “xfinitywifi” from the Wi-Fi menu to connect and launch your preferred browser.
Chanelle Chandler
Meterologists warn Texans to 'use caution' after the storm as 'deadly hazards remain'
The National Hurricane Center is warning Texas residents to "use caution and remain vigilant during the cleanup phase," even after Beryl leaves the area.
"Use Caution After the Storm as Deadly Hazards Remain Including Downed Powerlines and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning From Improper Generator Use," NHC wrote in a post on X Monday.
Here are some tips from the NHC for staying safe after Beryl passes:
Clean up safely, but don't push yourself
Follow the direction of officials if you have evacuated and want to return home
Use generators outdoors and place them 20 feet or more from your home
Brace for the potential of help and communications being unavailable
Check on your neighbors
Chanelle Chandler
Beryl expected to become 'post-tropical cyclone' on Tuesday
The National Hurricane Center reported Monday afternoon that maximum sustained winds from Tropical Storm Beryl had decreased to about 60 mph, with higher wind gusts up to 58 mph near the entrance to Galveston Bay. The NHC is now predicting that Beryl will become a post-tropical cyclone on Tuesday.
Meteorologists warn that flash flooding and gusty winds are still happening across eastern Texas.
A tropical storm warning and storm surge warning are also in effect for the Galveston area, including Galveston Bay, north of San Luis Pass to Sabine Pass, which is east of Houston.
Tropical Storm #Beryl Advisory 40A: Flash Flooding and Gusty Winds Continuing Over Eastern Texas. Use Caution After the Storm as Deadly Hazards Remain Including Downed Powerlines and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning From Improper Generator Use. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 8, 2024
Yahoo News Photo Staff
Photos: Scenes from Beryl's aftermath in Texas
Colin Campbell
At least 2 killed in Texas storm damage
Reuters reports:
In Texas, a 53-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman were killed in two incidents by trees that fell on their homes in the Houston area on Monday, according to Harris County officials.
Chanelle Chandler
Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport reports wind gust of 81 mph
Strong winds are still bearing down in eastern Texas, creating "very hazardous conditions," according to the National Hurricane Center.
Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport reported a wind gust of 81 mph at 12 p.m. CT.
Maximum sustained winds of 65 mph have also been reported around the area.
12 PM CDT Tropical Storm #Beryl Position Update - Very hazardous conditions persisting over eastern Texas. This is the last hourly position update, and the next information is the regularly scheduled 1 PM CDT intermediate advisory. More: https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/ThFdssa4yY
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 8, 2024
Chanelle Chandler
Possible electrical fire and free-flying debris captured on video in Houston area
Bryce Newberry, a reporter for Houston's NBC affiliate, posted videos on X of damage around the Houston area caused by Beryl.
One video shows construction materials flying off of a high-rise structure in Houston's museum district. Newberry says the construction had been halted for several months.
📍 Museum District
Materials are flying from this under-construction high rise where construction has been on pause for several months. @KPRC2 #Beryl pic.twitter.com/NogDaQoY5M— KPRC 2 Bryce Newberry (@KPRC2Bryce) July 8, 2024
Another video shows debris from Beryl that collapsed onto power lines in the South Loop part of the city.
📍 South Loop @ Scott St#Beryl storm debris whipped into these power lines @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/CD3HQHzO1f
— KPRC 2 Bryce Newberry (@KPRC2Bryce) July 8, 2024
A downed power line caused a possible electrical fire to break out at a Houston flea market, damaging four units of the market, Newberry reported. There were reportedly no injuries.
📍 Houston Flea Market
A possible electrical fire tore through four units of the flea market, @HoustonFire tells @KPRC2, after a power line possibly came down. No injuries. @CenterPoint crews have been dispatched to ensure all lines are de-energized.
🎥: Gesler Dario pic.twitter.com/w5axSThoHY— KPRC 2 Bryce Newberry (@KPRC2Bryce) July 8, 2024
Chanelle Chandler
Houston firefighters rescue man trapped in floodwaters
A man was rescued by Houston firefighters near the city's Astrodome after he became trapped in his pickup truck by floodwaters.
Nick Natario, a reporter from ABC's Houston affiliate, posted video and pictures on X that showed the man on top of his white pickup truck in the middle of high floodwaters that filled Texas state Highway 288 on Monday. The video shows the man in a life jacket putting a life preserver around his body. Pictures showed him being taken out of the water and helped to solid ground.
WATER RESCUE: Watch as @FirefightersHOU saved a man stuck in flood waters on 288. He was taken to an ambulance and taken away. The wind is wicked. What a job by HFD to save his life. https://t.co/nIgab2rbab pic.twitter.com/ZBzEGSl0NC
— Nick Natario (@NickABC13) July 8, 2024
He was taken away from the scene by ambulance.
Colin Campbell
Photo: Rainwater floods a Houston underpass
Dylan Stableford
Now is not the time to relax, forecasters warn
Weather forecasters tracking Beryl are urging those in the tropical storm's path not to let their guard down even as the storm weakens this week.
"Beryl has been a resilient storm ever since it exploded into a Category 5 hurricane in the Caribbean last week," Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather's lead hurricane expert, said in a news release. "People in the path of Beryl's track should not let their guard down this week. Beryl will bring the risk of tornadoes as far away as Ohio. Downpours from Beryl could also cause flash flooding as far north as Detroit, more than 1,100 miles from where Beryl made landfall in Texas."
The storm, which was downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm earlier Monday, is expected to continue weakening as it moves northeast from Texas through Arkansas and into Missouri and the upper Midwest.
Dylan Stableford
More than 2.5 million customers are without power
Tropical Storm Beryl continues to cause widespread power outages in Texas as it moves inland.
According to PowerOutage.us, there are now more than 2.5 million customers without power, or roughly 20% of the state.
Chanelle Chandler
'Life-threatening' surf and rip currents, tornadoes, flooding, and 'damaging wind gusts' predicted for much of Monday
Tropical storm Beryl is continuing to move over eastern Texas Monday but will make its way through the lower Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Here's the latest from NHC's 10 a.m. CT advisory:
Wind: Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph, with higher "damaging wind gusts." The conditions are likely to continue within the tropical storm warning area for the next several hours.
Storm surge: The combination of storm surge and tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach up to 4 to 6 feet in places like Freeport and Galveston Bay.
Rainfall: The upper Texas coast and eastern Texas are expected to receive as much as 15 inches of rain into Monday night. Meteorologists warn of "considerable flash and urban flooding as well as minor to isolated major river flooding." Southeastern Oklahoma, Arkansas and southern Missouri are also expected to receive 3-5 inches of rainfall Monday night into Tuesday.
Tornadoes: Parts of east Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas could experience several tornadoes through Monday night.
Surf: Swells around eastern Mexico and the northern and western Gulf Coast of the U.S. are expected to cause "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions" into the next day.
Dylan Stableford
Tornado watch issued for parts of Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas
A tornado watch that was issued along Beryl's path in Texas has been expanded to include parts of Louisiana and Arkansas, the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center said in its most recent outlook.
"Several tornadoes will be possible today, in association with Tropical Cyclone Beryl, from southeast Texas into northwest Louisiana and far southwest Arkansas," the center's forecast said, adding that there is "an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms" for the same areas.
A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas until 10 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/9JnvcNM3Zb
— NWS Tornado (@NWStornado) July 8, 2024
Earlier Monday, tornado warnings were issued for the Houston area. They were lifted late Monday morning.
Colin Campbell
How to track Houston floodwaters
The Harris County Flood Control District’s Flood Warning System continuously monitors rainfall and water levels in the Houston-based county.
Dylan Stableford
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is in Seoul as Beryl blasts his state
As Beryl moves across Texas, bring with it life-threatening wind, rain and storm surge, Gov. Greg Abbott is on a previously scheduled trip to East Asia.
"While I am in Taiwan, South Korea & Japan working on business deals worth billions, I remain in daily contact with Texas Division of Emergency Management & local officials to ensure preparation for Hurricane Beryl," Abbott said in a post on X Sunday. "Your safety is our top concern."
After Beryl made landfall near Matagorda, Texas, early Monday, Abbott posted a photos from what he described as a "very productive afternoon in Seoul."
Spent a very productive afternoon in Seoul.
Met with @kita_net and business leaders from across South Korea to discuss economic opportunities in Texas to grow and succeed.
I also met with executives from SK Signet to thank them for their investments in Texas. pic.twitter.com/S4TSrtsA5X
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 8, 2024
Chanelle Chandler
Photos: Hurricane Beryl hits Texas after leaving heavy damage in Jamaica and Mexico
Hurricane Beryl pummeled the Texas coastline early Monday as a Category 1 storm, bringing with it life-threatening winds and and major power outages. Wind speeds were reported as high as 94 mph, and flood warnings were issued across several areas of the Texas coast.
As of 10 a.m. CT on Monday, Beryl had been downgraded to a tropical storm as it continued to move inland across eastern Texas.
Last week, Beryl emerged as the earliest Category 5 storm on record in the Atlantic, sweeping a path of destruction in the eastern Caribbean and Jamaica before crossing into Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula and the Gulf of Mexico. At least 11 people were reported killed in the Caribbean.
Here are some photos from Beryl's path:
