On Monday, Hurricane Beryl wreaked havoc in southeast Texas, causing heavy winds, rainfall, and flash flooding that resulted in the loss of eight lives. As of late Monday, over 2.5 million people were still without power due to the devastating impact of the hurricane.
In Texas, the death toll rose to seven, while one person lost their life in Louisiana.
At 4:30 a.m, Beryl hit the land as a Category 1 storm having maximum sustained winds of 75 mph near Matagorda, marking its status as the first storm in the United States to make landfall in the Atlantic hurricane season.
As the hurricane made its way to land, it weakened and was reclassified as a tropical storm. It passed through Houston, which is approximately 94 miles from Matagorda, with sustained winds of 60 mph. By Monday night, the sustained winds had decreased to 45 mph.
As the day progressed, it seemed like Matagorda had escaped any significant and lasting harm, with the rainfall and gusts gradually tapering off.
In Freeport, winds gusting up to 94 mph were recorded, while Brazoria County Airport saw speeds of 85 mph. At Hobby International Airport, winds reached a high of 76 mph. Houston’s George Bush International Airport also experienced strong winds, with speeds reaching 67 mph.
KOU11 reported that three individuals lost their lives within an hour during midday in Montgomery County, Texas, as per the office of local Judge Mark Keough.
Three individuals lost their lives due to fallen trees – a man in his 40s and a man and woman suspected to be homeless.
Two individuals lost their lives in Harris County.
According to a statement released by Harris County Constable Precinct 4, a tree fell on a house and resulted in the death of a 74-year-old woman.
According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, a man who was 53 years old lost his life after becoming trapped under debris due to a tree falling on his house.
According to X, a man aged 53 was sitting with his family in their house, waiting out the storm. Unfortunately, an oak tree fell on the roof and hit the rafters, causing the structure to collapse on top of the man. Luckily, his wife and children were unharmed.
According to Mayor John Whitmire, two additional fatalities were recorded in Houston. One of them was caused by a fire that is believed to be storm-related. The other individual who passed away was a civilian worker for the Houston Police Department.
54-year-old Russell Richardson tragically lost his life when his vehicle succumbed to flooding while passing under an underpass on his way to work, ultimately resulting in him drowning.
During a press conference on Monday night, he expressed his sadness over the tragic situation of his colleague’s body being retrieved from his submerged car. He had been present all afternoon to witness the recovery process. The incident was truly devastating.
According to a recent Facebook post by the sheriff’s office, a woman in Bossier Parish near the Texas border tragically passed away after a tree fell on her home in Louisiana.
Last week, the Caribbean islands and Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula were hit hard by a storm, resulting in the unfortunate deaths of nine individuals.
During a morning briefing, Whitmire urged residents to take immediate action and shelter in place due to the severe winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding. He referred to the situation as an emergency, emphasizing the need for people to prioritize their safety and well-being.
During an afternoon conference, Whitmire warned not to be fooled by the clear skies and emphasized that dangerous circumstances and high water still exist throughout the city.
Since Sunday night, the area has experienced heavy rainfall with amounts ranging from 4 to 8 inches. A significant portion of this rain has fallen since daybreak on Monday.
National Weather Service data shows that Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport has received over 4.5 inches of rain since midnight, which is more than the usual 3.77 inches it records for the entire month of July.
Crews from the Texas Department of Transportation were busy clearing debris and fallen trees.
According to Poweroutages.US, out of 13.8 million customers in Texas, around 2.5 million people are currently experiencing power outages. This includes over 251,000 individuals residing in Montgomery County, located north of Harris County. Meanwhile, in Louisiana, more than 31,000 people are without electricity.
During a press conference, Thomas Gleeson, the chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, stated that it would require several days to bring back power to the millions of individuals statewide.
Between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m., there were a total of 19 calls made for water rescues.
Houston’s two primary airports have canceled almost 1,500 flights, impacting both inbound and outbound travel.
FlightAware.com reported that 91% of flights out of Bush Intercontinental Airport, which amounted to 604, were canceled as of Monday night. Similarly, 78% of outgoing trips, totaling 165 flights, were also canceled at William P. Hobby Airport.
According to Flightaware, a staggering 83% of the incoming flights to Bush airport were canceled, which amounts to 560 flights. Similarly, 68% of the incoming flights to Hobby airport, totaling 147 flights, were canceled as well. The number of cancellations in and out of the United States on Monday was a whopping 2,336.
As per the Houston Chronicle, the severe rain and windy conditions were predicted to subside by 7 p.m. local time.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority has currently ceased the operation of their services, which includes both buses and rail. Meanwhile, Door Dash has temporarily suspended their services and is expected to resume at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
Before Beryl’s arrival, several ports including Corpus Christi, Houston, Galveston, Freeport, and Texas City had already restricted or closed shipping traffic.
According to reports, Port Houston is set to resume its operations on Tuesday. As of 9 a.m., the water level was recorded to be 10.29 feet above its usual level, as indicated by the gauge.
Assessments will be carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard, Galveston Port Police, and port staff to determine the appropriate time for opening waterways and port operations.
Due to high water, a section of the southbound lane of Interstate 45 North Freeway was blocked off. In addition, high winds caused the closure of other roadways such as the Fred Hartman Bridge that connects La Porte to Baytown on Monday morning.
The Houston area is currently facing an overflow of bayous and streams due to heavy rainfall. The Harris County Flood Control District has reported that some areas received more than 5 inches of rain, while others have surpassed 10 inches.
According to a spokesperson, St. Luke’s Health-Brazosport Hospital in Lake Jackson suffered damage to its roof and multiple windows due to Hurricane Beryl. The hospital had to rely on generator power to continue operating.
According to Mayor Gregg Bisso, the storm surge flooded Surfside Beach in Brazoria County with a depth ranging between 5 and 7 feet.
Officials in Galveston are advising individuals to take shelter and avoid traveling on roadways due to the significant amount of debris and malfunctioning traffic lights.
Hitchcock suffered from severe damage, including flooding and the fall of trees, as reported. The area along Highway 6 was submerged under four feet of floodwater.
According to Jasper County Judge Mark Allen, 30 to 40 homes were damaged when a tornado was confirmed near Jasper at 11:11 a.m. by the National Weather Service Lake Charles.
An apartment complex and nursing home facility were struck by the tornado.
In Timpson, a town located in east Texas, a tornado was reported to have made landfall.
Tornadoes were spotted in the vicinity of the Texas-Louisiana border.
The National Hurricane Center has estimated that sea levels in Port O’Connor to San Luis Pass may rise up to 7 feet due to the anticipated storm surge. The surge is also expected to cause a 6-foot increase in sea levels in Sabine Pass and Galveston Bay, and a 5-foot increase in High Island.
According to the NHC, the Lower Mississippi Valley can expect the speedy storm to arrive on Tuesday, with the Ohio Valley likely to be affected by Wednesday.
Throughout Monday, the wind speeds are expected to significantly drop, but the storm is anticipated to continue pouring substantial rain over the affected regions. The middle to upper Texas Coast is predicted to receive up to 15 inches of rain due to Beryl.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has predicted a significant amount of precipitation for tonight and Tuesday in certain parts of southern Missouri, Arkansas, and far southeastern Oklahoma. The expected rainfall ranges from 3 to 5 inches, and there is a possibility of higher amounts in some areas.
