Tropical Storm Warnings, Hurricane Watches issued for Texas coastline ahead of Beryl's impacts
As of Saturday at 5:00 P.M. EDT, Hurricane Warnings have been issued as Tropical Storm Beryl approaches Texas. Continuous coverage of Tropical Storm Beryl has moved here.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Texas is now bracing for impact from what will likely be a direct strike from Hurricane Beryl, and the first warnings have been hoisted.
Currently, Beryl remains a tropical storm, and a Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect from just south of Baffin Bay, Texas to the mouth of the Rio Grande River, meaning tropical storm conditions (wind gusts of 39-73 mph) are likely there within the next 36 hours.
But as Beryl slowly regains strength in the Gulf of Mexico this weekend, it will likely regain hurricane status as it eyes a more northerly track toward the heart of the Texas Gulf Coast by Monday.
"We are expecting a lot of that intensification to take place in the last, you know, 12 to 18 hours prior to landfall," National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan told FOX Weather. "So people do need to prepare as if there is going to be a hurricane, because that's what we're expecting and all the hazards that come with that."
Hurricane Watches remain in effect for much of Texas' coastline, from south of the Houston/Galveston metro area to Rio Grande River, meaning hurricane conditions are possible within the next 48 hours.
A dangerous storm surge of up to 5 feet is expected to impact a wide swath of the Texas coast by Sunday night into Monday, while torrential rains that total as much as 10-15 inches threaten flash and urban flooding – some of which could be considerable. Beryl's powerful hurricane-force winds could lead to power outages and property damage.
The weather is expected to rapidly deteriorate Sunday night into Monday morning from Brownsville to Houston, and preparations should be underway for a hurricane to make landfall Monday.
"This is going to be a very challenging system to deal with because it's so disorganized now, and it's going to look disorganized as it approaches the coast, and it's harder to get people motivated to take action," said FOX Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross. "But we have a situation where it could intensify significantly (Sunday) as it's approaching the coast like right off shore."
Norcross says if so, we could end up with a pretty significant hurricane.
"Probably not above a category 2, but where we've seen storms intensify rapidly right off the coast. And that's not completely out of the question."
Beryl weakened into a tropical storm Friday afternoon after pummeling Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula but is forecast to regain hurricane strength this weekend over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico that sit in the mid-upper 80s. The atmosphere in the western Gulf of Mexico is also becoming less hostile to tropical development.
"This isn't just a South Texas event anymore," Norcross said. "This is an event for all of eastern Texas and all the big cities from San Antonio to Austin and especially metro Houston. Not to mention, of course, Corpus Christi, Matagorda Bay, storm surge along the coast."
KNOW YOUR ZONE: TEXAS HURRICANE EVACUATION ZONES
A Storm Surge Watch is also in effect from the Rio Grande northward to High Island, Texas. A Storm Surge Watch means there is a potential for life-threatening water rises within the next 48 hours.
Storm Surge models indicate a water rise of 3-5 feet is possible from Baffin Bay to Sargent, along with Corpus Christi Bay and Matagorda Bay starting as early as Sunday night and lasting into Monday.
"The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the right of the center, where the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves," the NHC warned. "Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances."
Much of East Texas should brace for several inches of rain from Beryl. Wide swaths of 5-10 inch accumulations are expected with localized amounts up to 15 inches, across portions of the Texas Gulf Coast and eastern Texas from Sunday through the middle of next week.
"This rainfall is likely to produce areas of flash and urban flooding, some of which may be locally considerable in nature," the NHC warned.
The Houston area is currently forecast to see around 5-8 inches of rain with heavier amounts in the southern and western suburbs.
Any of the outer rain bands could also produce tropical storm-force gusts and even spin up an isolated tornado, meteorologists with the National Weather Service office in Corpus Christi, Texas said.
Current projections have Beryl with peak wind speeds of around 90 mph when it makes landfall on Monday along the Texas coast.
But hurricane force winds (74 mph+) are possible anywhere inside the Hurricane Watch area along the Gulf coast of northeastern Mexico and Texas by early Monday, with tropical storm conditions beginning Sunday night.
Cameron County, Texas was one of the first in the state to issue voluntary evacuations.
Authorities advised those living in mobile homes and visitors staying at parks to seek more substantial shelter.
The county was one of 40 that were part of a disaster declaration signed by acting Governor Dan Patrick.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is currently out of the country, but said he is monitoring the situation.
Communities in low-lying areas and along the coast have already started to offer sandbags to residents, which will be available as long as supplies last.
Original article source: Tropical Storm Warnings, Hurricane Watches issued for Texas coastline ahead of Beryl's impacts
