Beryl Weakens to Tropical Depression, Causes Flooding and
Tornado Threats in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas
Despite weakening to a tropical depression, Beryl continued
to pose significant threats on Tuesday after making landfall early Monday as a
Category 1 hurricane. Beryl hit the Gulf Coast of Texas between Galveston and
Corpus Christi, causing heavy rain and power outages affecting millions.
By Monday evening, Beryl had downgraded to a tropical
depression, bringing flooding and tornado risks to eastern Texas, western
Louisiana, and Arkansas. The National Hurricane Center warned of "deadly
hazards" such as downed power lines and improper generator use, predicting
further weakening to a remnant low by Tuesday.
Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches, with higher local amounts, was
expected from the lower Mississippi Valley to the Great Lakes and Northeast
through Wednesday night, posing a risk of flash flooding. The tornado threat
continued, especially between Louisville, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati.
The National Weather Service in Houston issued a heat
advisory for Tuesday, warning that power outages could exacerbate dangerous
conditions, especially for those cleaning up outside. As of 5 a.m. EDT Tuesday,
Beryl was 145 miles northeast of Tyler, Texas, with 30 mph sustained winds.
Power outages in Texas peaked at 2.6 million customers on
Monday evening, slightly reducing to 2.3 million by Tuesday morning.
Approximately 3,400 flights were canceled or delayed due to the storm. At least
seven storm-related deaths were reported in Texas, with fatalities resulting
from fallen trees and flooding. Louisiana also reported one death due to a
fallen tree.
Beryl's intense winds and rain caused significant
disruptions, with potential storm surges of up to 6 feet being a major concern.
The National Hurricane Center lifted storm surge and tropical storm warnings
for Texas by Monday night.
Disaster declarations were issued for 121 Texas counties,
with mandatory evacuations in areas like Refugio County and Port Aransas. The
Houston Independent School District closed campuses and canceled activities due
to the storm.
Before reaching the U.S., Beryl caused 11 deaths in the
Caribbean, impacting Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, and
Mexico. Beryl's rapid development into a major hurricane and its impact on
these regions highlighted its historic and dangerous nature.
