Photo Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Texas early Monday morning as a Category 1 storm, bringing destructive winds, heavy rainfall, and life-threatening storm surge to coastal communities. The hurricane hit the Matagorda Peninsula, about 85 miles southwest of Houston, with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph.
By mid-morning, Beryl had been downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved inland, but continued to pose significant threats. "This remains a dangerous storm that will bring very heavy rain, damaging winds and life-threatening storm surge," warned Rick Knabb, a hurricane expert at The Weather Channel.
The storm has already caused at least two deaths in the Houston area. Harris County officials reported that a 53-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman were killed when trees fell on their homes.
Beryl's fury left over 2.7 million customers without power across Texas, according to PowerOutage.us. In Matagorda and Brazoria counties, where the hurricane made landfall, nearly 100% of tracked customers lost electricity.
Houston and surrounding areas experienced widespread flooding, with some neighborhoods receiving over 15 inches of rain. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for communities north of Houston including The Woodlands and Spring.
"We're seeing significant street flooding that's making many roads impassable," said Jeff Lindner, meteorologist with the Harris County Flood Control District. "We urge residents to stay off the roads if possible as the situation remains dangerous."
Emergency crews conducted numerous high-water rescues, including saving a man trapped atop his pickup truck in floodwaters near Houston's Astrodome. Fire departments across the region responded to calls about downed trees, power lines, and transformer fires.
The storm's impacts extended well beyond the coast. Tornado warnings were issued for parts of eastern Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas as Beryl's outer bands spawned severe thunderstorms. Forecasters warned the tornado threat could persist through Monday night.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, currently on a trade mission in Asia, said he remained in close contact with emergency management officials. "While I am overseas, I'm receiving constant updates and ensuring all necessary resources are deployed," Abbott stated.
As Beryl moves northeast, meteorologists caution that flood risks will expand into the lower Mississippi Valley. AccuWeather's Alex DaSilva noted, "People in Beryl's path should not let their guard down. The storm could cause flash flooding as far north as Detroit, over 1,100 miles from where it made landfall."
Federal and state officials urged residents to remain vigilant, avoid flooded roadways, and heed all local warnings and evacuation orders. With Beryl's full impact still unfolding, Texas faces a long road to recovery in the storm's wake.
