Heavy Rain and Winds Expected
The Houston area is poised for significant rainfall, potential flooding, and tropical storm-force. Winds in the upcoming 24 hours as Tropical Storm Beryl approaches the Texas coastline. City officials have urged residents to stay off the roads starting at 10 p.m. Sunday. “The fewer people on the road, the easier it is for us to do our job,” Acting Police Chief Larry Satterwhite emphasized during a Sunday press conference. “The less likely we are to have to perform a rescue.”
Satterwhite advised, “If you must venture out, avoid driving through any water on the road. Do not assume you can navigate through it.”
Preparations and Warnings Houston
Houston Mayor John Whitmire assured the public that local and county leaders are prepared for Beryl’s. It impact as it moves northward after landfall on the Texas coast. The storm could bring 6 to 12 inches of rain to the region. “Conditions tonight will be very different from what you wake up to in the morning,” Whitmire warned.
Beryl is expected to enter the Houston area from the southwest, with counties like Fort Bend likely to experience some of the most severe impacts. Updated forecasts predict landfall near Matagorda Bay early Monday morning. “If this track holds, Houston will see some of the strongest winds and heaviest rains from Beryl,” stated Eric Berger of Space City Weather.
Storm Tracking and Impact Houston
As of Sunday afternoon, Beryl remained a tropical storm but is forecasted to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane on Monday. The storm’s outer bands were already bringing intermittent rain to parts of Houston on Sunday morning. “The weather will deteriorate, especially this afternoon and evening,” noted Eric Blake, a senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center. “People should be in their safe spaces by nightfall, with the hurricane expected to make landfall on the mid-Texas coast overnight.”
Meteorological Insights Houston
Meteorologists forecast up to eight inches of rain for parts of the Houston area during the storm, with up to 10 inches possible in Galveston. The heaviest rainfall is expected overnight into Monday morning. Bradley Brokamp of the National Weather Service’s Houston-Galveston office advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel. “Conditions will worsen over the next several hours into tomorrow as Beryl nears,” he said. “Commutes on Monday will be particularly hazardous as landfall timing coincides with rush hour.”
Tropical storm-force winds could impact Galveston and Houston, potentially causing downed trees and power outages. Houston could see wind speeds between 35-55 mph. Officials also warn of a possible storm surge of three to five feet in Galveston. Galveston County preemptively declared a disaster on Saturday.
Travel and Evacuations Houston
As of midday Sunday, most flights from Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports were on schedule. Although over 65 flights were delayed and four canceled according to FlightAware. Fort Bend County has activated its emergency operations center in anticipation of Beryl. “We expect a Category 1 hurricane but are preparing as if it were a Category 2,” said County Judge KP George during a Sunday press conference. Residents are urged to complete hurricane preparations and stay off the roads. Tornadoes could also accompany the storm.
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Federal and State Response Houston
The White House announced Sunday that FEMA had dispatched emergency responders, search-and-rescue teams, bottled water, and other resources along the coast. Several coastal cities issued voluntary evacuation orders for flood-prone areas, prohibited beach camping, and advised tourists to move RVs from coastal parks. In Refugio County, north of Corpus Christi. A mandatory evacuation order was issued for 6,700 residents.
