At a Glance
- Beryl made landfall in Texas as a hurricane.
- At least two people were killed by falling trees in the Houston area.
- Power outages impacted millions in eastern Texas.
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Beryl carved a deadly path of destruction across parts of Texas Monday, leaving cars stranded in water, roofs ripped off homes, roads washed out and emergency services scrambling to rescue people caught up in the storm.
Several deaths in the Houston area are being connected to Beryl, including those of a police officer who was caught up in floodwaters on the way to work and two people whose homes were hit by falling trees.
Beryl roared ashore as a Category 1 hurricane near Matagorda, Texas, and ripped through towns along the Gulf of Mexico. The storm continued to push inland with dangerous flooding, wind and severe weather.
(MORE: Latest Forecast For Beryl | Beryl Maps Tracker)
Millions of people were without power and more than 1,400 flights were canceled at Houston area airports.
Here are our live updates from Monday:
(7:49 p.m. ET) What's Next For Beryl?
From weather.com digital meteorologist Madeline Scheinost:
Beryl weakened to a tropical depression, but that doesn't mean the threat it brings is over. Tornadoes will be possible tonight in parts of Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana, and that threat will spread into parts of the midwest and Ohio Valley tomorrow. Flash flooding will also be possible as heavy rains spread into the midwest.
(7:41 p.m. ET) Tropics Quiet, For Now
From weather.com meteorologist Danielle Banks:
The National Hurricane Center isn’t expecting any tropical cyclone formation in the next 7 days. While Beryl made history as the first Category 4 storm on record in June and the strongest July Atlantic hurricane on record, it's more common for this month to be quiet when it comes to tropical activity.
(7:03 p.m. ET) Death Toll Rises
At least four deaths are being connected to the storm. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said an employee for the city of Houston died in floodwaters on their way to work.
Houston Police Chief Larry Satterwhite identified the employee as Information Security Officer Russell Richardson, 54. He became trapped in water under a highway overpass.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire said a person in southeast Houston died in a fire caused by lightning.
(6:55 p.m. ET) Power Could Be Out For Days
With power outages in Texas nearing 3 million, officials say restoration could take awhile.
Thousands of additional electrical workers are being brought in to help.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is acting governor while Gov. Greg Abbott is out of the country, said the storm brought down at least 10 transmission lines. Fallen trees also caused many outages.
More than 2.7 million homes, businesses and other utility customers are without power, according to PowerOutage.us.
The number of outages is starting to tick up in Louisiana, too, with about 26,000 being reported in the western part of the state.
(6:08 p.m. ET) Tornado Damage In Texas
There are several reports of tornadoes in areas near the Texas-Louisiana border, including one in Jasper County, Texas, that caused damage to an apartment or condominium building. Search and rescue is ongoing, according to storm reports tracked by the National Weather Service.
Jasper County is about 100 miles northeast of the Houston metro.
There are also reports of tornadoes in Shelby and Cameron counties in Texas, as well as Bossier and Natchitoches parishes in Louisiana.
(5:42 p.m. ET) Don't Be A Victim
Hot weather and power outages can be a deadly combination.
Heat was the biggest killer after Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana in 2021. Seventeen of 26 deaths were connected to power outages, according to the state health department.
At least 11 people died in Florida due to issues related to lack of electricity after Hurricane Ian in 2022.
Besides heat, some of the deaths were also blamed on a lack of electricity to run life-saving medical equipment.
Using a portable generator can be a solution for some, but only if you use one safely. That means:
-Never use a generator indoors.
-Don't use a generator in a garage or carport or similar structure, or within 20 feet of any windows, doors or covered or enclosed areas such as porches.
-Always use a carbon monoxide detector.
More: How To Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
(5:16 p.m. ET) Hot, Humid Weather On The Way
From weather.com senior meteorologist Dina Knightly:
It will be hot and humid on Tuesday and as Beryl moves away from Texas. More power outages are likely, so be careful of heat stroke and make sure you have clean water to stay hydrated.
The winds will die down so there may not even be much of a breeze to keep anyone cool.
If you return to your home to clean up, make sure you have somewhere to go to cool off and wear sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself.
Be careful not to wade through flooded waters to cool off, either. You don't know what is in that water that could cut you, scratch you, bite you or infect you.
(4:54 p.m. ET) Drone Footage Shows Significant Damage In Parts Of Matagorda County, Texas
RVs were flattened, boats sunk and roofs torn off houses. See the full video here.
(4:41 PM ET) Houston Water Safe To Drink, City Says
Residents are being asked to call 311 to report water outages. City-wide, officials say the water is safe to drink.
(4:26 p.m. ET) Beware Of Severe Weather Threat
Tornadoes are now one of the biggest threats from Beryl. Several areas are currently under tornado watches or warnings, including parts of eastern Texas and western Louisiana.
Tomorrow, the danger moves north and east into areas including parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana.
(3:30 p.m. ET) Homes Damaged In Surfside Beach, Texas
Photos shared by police in the town on the Gulf coast 55 miles south of Houston show streets covered in water and damage to A-frame homes along the beach.
(2:55 p.m. ET) Beryl Remains A Threat
From weather.com senior meteorologist Dina Knightly:
As Beryl moves farther inland, heavy rain and flooding all the way to the Northeast becomes the main threat through late week.
Strong winds will continue in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas into tonight.
Wind damage and power outages are likely. Charge your phones and be ready.
(2:38 p.m. ET) Houston METRO Services Won't Resume Today
Public transportation in Houston will remain shut down until at least tomorrow.
"Employee and community safety is our top priority as we assess the condition of area roadways and the transit system," a social media update from the agency said. "We'll issue updates later today about Tuesday service."
(2:09 p.m. ET) Here's Where The Storm Is Now
Tropical Storm Beryl is about 55 miles north of Houston, according to a new update from the National Hurricane Center. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and is moving north-northeast at about 14 mph.
A storm surge warning and a tropical storm warning remain in effect along the Texas coast from north of San Luis Pass to Sabine Pass, including Galveston Bay.
(2:03 p.m. ET) Take A Look At Beryl
Here's a roundup of some of our Beryl video coverage today:
-What It Looked Like When Beryl Hit Houston
-Beryl Topples Buc-ee’s Sign In Texas
-Hurricane Beryl Makes Landfall
(1:48 p.m. ET) Vehicles Abandoned In High Water On Houston Highway
Drivers left cars sitting in high water and roads are blocked on at least one highway going into downtown Houston, according to a report from KPRC-TV.
(1:34 p.m. ET) Flying Through Texas Today? Check Your Flight.
More than 1,300 arriving or departing flights are canceled so far at Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport and the nearby William P. Hobby Airport, according to airline tracker FlightAware.com.
Ahead of the storm, Bush Intercontinental consolidated some terminal operations and advised passengers to check their flights before heading to the airport.
(1:18 p.m. ET) Photos Show Damage In Texas
Trees are down and roads are flooded in the southeast part of the state. Click through our slideshow here to see more of Beryl's wrath, starting last week in the Caribbean.
(12:56 p.m. ET) Texas Power Outages Top 2.6 Million
More than 2.6 million homes and businesses are without power in the Houston area and surrounding counties, according to PowerOutage.us. Most of the outages are being reported by customers of CenterPoint Energy, one of the state's largest utility providers.
Each outage reflects a single utility account that can impact multiple people.
(12:43 p.m. ET) 'Stay Where You Are'
"It's dangerous outside and we need people to stay where they're at … We have overflowing bayous in some locations, lots of street flooding … The drains are clogged by the leaves and the limbs that have come down in the strong winds," Harris County Meteorologist Jeff Lindner told The Weather Channel.
"We have power lines down. We have power poles down … So we have no signal capabilities at most of our intersections. So it is dangerous to be out driving around. Stay where you are at least until this afternoon as we get some damage assessment teams out and see the conditions we're facing .. We need to keep the roads open as much as we can to get the emergency services out there to where they need to be."
(12:13 p.m. ET) Latest Rainfall Totals Near A Foot In Houston Area
Here's a look at some of the highest rainfall totals over the past 24 hours in Harris County, which includes the city of Houston:
-11.56 inches, northwest of the city near Hilshire Village.
-10.48 inches, near Heaker on the southwest side.
-9.88 inches, near South Houston.
-8.32 inches, northeast of the city near the Liberty County line.
(12:02 p.m. ET) Beryl Brings Dangers Inland
Police in Rosenberg, Texas, say conditions are deteriorating. The town is about 30 miles southwest of Houston.
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"We can tell you that the wind gusts are picking up, rain is continuing. Roadways are filled with debris," police said in a social media update about an hour ago.
A photo showed a truck turned on its side.
(11:35 a.m. ET) Second Death Reported In Houston Area
The Harris County Sheriff's Office is reporting a second death from a falling tree. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the victim is a 74-year-old woman who was in her home when a tree fell on it. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Earlier, Gonzalez said a 53-year-old man died when a tree fell on his roof and part of the structure came down on top of him.
(11:00 a.m. ET) Houston To Barricade Flooded Areas
Emergency crews are barricading some flooded areas in Houston to help mitigate risk to others. Residents were reminded to never move a barricade. “They’re there for your protection,” officials said.
(10:48 a.m. ET) ‘Serious Accidents’ Reported In Spring, Texas
Along with photos of downed power lines, officials for Spring Fire Department in Texas posted to social media that crews are responding to “serious accidents” including electrical transformer fires. Spring is a part of the Greater Houston area. Residents were advised to call 311 to report downed trees, call 911 for life-threatening emergencies and contact Center Point Energy to report downed power lines or gas leaks.
(10:41 a.m. ET) Power Outages Surge Past 2 Million
More than 2 million customers have now lost power in Texas as a result of Hurricane Beryl, according to PowerOutage.us. Nearly all customers in Brazoria county are without electricity and more than half of customers in Galveston county are without power.
(10:30 a.m. ET) First Images of Tornado Damage In Jamaica Beach
A home was torn to shreds in the coastal city of Jamaica Beach where a tornado associated with Hurricane Beryl was reported overnight. There were multiple local reports of several homes damaged, and many trees and power lines toppled to the ground. Streets in the area were also filled with storm surge flooding. The city’s mayor issued a voluntary evacuation order on Sunday before Beryl’s arrival.
See more of the damage from Beryl's landfall here.
(10:05 a.m. ET) 1,200+ Flights Canceled At Houston’s Airports
From FlightAware.com: More than 1,200 flights have been canceled since Sunday at Houston’s two airports - William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
(9:38 a.m. ET) Conditions Deteriorating Rapidly In Houston
Hurricane-force winds and sideways rain reached Houston Monday morning, as the city notorious for flooding braced for a potentially catastrophic day.
The entire Houston metro area was under a flash flood warning.
“If wind wasn’t enough for you, the rain needs to be your reason to stay inside for the next several hours,” said Weather Channel correspondent Justin Michaels, struggling to stay standing on a downtown Houston street amid heavy gusts.
Damage could be seen to the roof of a Hilton Hotels building downtown, in the same area where a mid-May derecho blew out 2,500 windows from high-rise buildings.
(9:29 a.m. ET) One Person Dead In Harris County, Texas
According to a post from the Harris County Sheriff, one person was confirmed dead after officers responded to a neighborhood where a tree fell on a house, trapping a man under debris. The fire department was also on the scene in Kings River Village.
(9:15 a.m. ET) Surfside Beach Island Closed To All Traffic
According to a Facebook post made by the Surfside Beach, Texas, Police Department, the city’s mayor has closed the island to all traffic until the Chief of Police decides it is safe. Surfside Beach is a city situated on Follet's Island by the Gulf of Mexico about 40 miles from Galveston.
(9:07 a.m. ET) Houston Suspends All Metro Services
Houston’s Metro Transit Authority has suspended all bus and rail services. Officials said they would continue to monitor Beryl’s passage through the region and they anticipated resuming service later on Monday. In the last 24 hours, the Houston area has seen as much as 8 inches of rain from Beryl, according to the Harris County Flood Warning System.
(8:51 a.m. ET) Nearly Entire Texas County Without Power
As power outages in Texas continue to rise, exceeding 1.5 million homes and businesses, one county is facing a near total loss of electricity. Of the about 46,000 electric customers tracked in Brazoria County, Texas, more than 40,000 were without power.
(8:39 a.m. ET) League City, Texas, City Facilities And Programs Closed
Early Monday morning, city officials for League City, Texas, announced the closure of all city facilities and parks and the cancellation of trash pickup, summer camp and all parks and recreation programs.
(8:04 a.m ET) Water Rescues In Rosenberg, Texas
Police in Rosenberg, Texas dispatched officers in high-water vehicles for water rescues early Monday. Water along one flooded street was up to an officer’s knees. The department also reported downed trees and power lines, including a tree that fell on to one of their high-water vehicles as it was returning from a rescue. They asked residents to stay off the roads.
(8:00 a.m. ET) Power Outages Jump Along Texas Coast
According to the latest numbers from energy provider CenterPoint Energy, more than 950,000 homes and businesses in Texas are without power. Providers Texas-New Mexico Power and AEP Texas also report over 79,000 and 29,000 outages respectively, meaning more than a million Texas homes and businesses are without power. Due to disruption of outage management systems, an exact number of statewide outages is unknown.
(7:30 a.m. ET) FAA Warns Of Potential Air Travel Delays
The Federal Aviation Administration’s National Airspace System Status indicated that a “Ground Delay Program” was probable for William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston after 8:00 a.m. ET and for Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field in Dallas after 12:00 p.m. ET. When a Ground Delay Program is active, flights destined for an affected airport may be delayed based on how much the airport’s capacity is reduced due to adverse weather.
(7:00 a.m. ET) What’s Next For Beryl
Now that Beryl’s center is inland, the most immediate concern through the morning hours is heavy rainfall and continued strong wind gusts in southeast Texas, including Houston.
Flash flooding is likely and winds could down trees and cause more power outages. It’s best to avoid travel in the Houston metro until the worst of Beryl is over later today.
(6:23 a.m. ET) Tornado Reported in Jamaica Beach
From the National Weather Service - A tornado associated with Hurricane Beryl was reported in Jamaica Beach this morning. The city is in Galveston county. The report says power lines are down and a house was damaged.
(5:57 a.m. ET) Power Outages Top 160,000
According to PowerOutage.us, more than 162,000 customers have lost power. About 12,000 of those customers are in Matagorda, where Hurricane Beryl made landfall.
(5:21 a.m. ET) Areas Seeing Storm Surge Over 3 Feet
Port O'Connor recorded a storm surge of 3.71 feet this morning, briefly hitting a major flooding threshold. Other places along the Upper Texas Coast have seen storm surge of 3-4 feet so far.
(4:59 a.m. ET) Hurricane Beryl makes landfall
Beryl came ashore in Matagorda, Texas, as a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph.
Here are our updates from Sunday as the storm neared Texas:
(8:10 p.m. ET) Residents Feeling The First Impacts
Residents in Corpus Christi are already feeling the first bands from Beryl. Scattered rain showers and wind gusts of up to 40 mph are sweeping through the area. Temperatures, which have been in the 90s for days, have also started to drop as cool winds from Beryl make their way inland.
Footage from Youtuber Nick Block posted to X shows thick storm clouds gathering and wind beginning to pick up strength.
(7:45 p.m. ET) Harris County Meteorologist: ‘Not Gonna Get A Lot Of Sleep Tonight’
Harris County, Texas meteorologist Jeff Lindner thinks Houston will be able to handle the deluge from Beryl. But with 5 to 10 inches or more of rain expected, he says he’s concerned about the potential for flooding.
“You know, five [inches of rainfall] we can probably handle,” Lindner told the Weather Channel. “As we get up toward that 10-inch amount, if we get that or isolated higher [amounts] that’s where we start to be concerned about our creeks and bayous that drain all this water to Galveston Bay.”
Lindner cautioned of wind impacts, including downed trees and power lines. He said he doesn’t expect the kind of wind damage Houston saw during mid-May’s derecho, which blew out more than 2,500 windows in downtown skyscrapers.
He urged people in Beryl’s path to get to a safe place before it’s too late.
“Be where you’re going to be for the duration of this storm by 10 p.m. tonight. Off the roads, no travel,” Lindner said. “You’re not gonna get a lot of sleep tonight in the Houston metro area, with the wind impacts, with the heavy rain impacts.”
(7:05 p.m. ET) Beryl To Intensify
Tropical Storm Beryl is currently gaining strength in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to become a Category 1 hurricane in a matter of hours. Satellite imagery shows deepening convection around Beryl’s center, despite earlier challenges with dry air. The focus is now on whether Beryl can form a defined eyewall which will be crucial for faster intensification before the storm makes landfall.
From weather.com digital meteorologist Madeline Scheinost:
“Beryl is in a more favorable environment for strengthening, with ample warm sea temperatures and low wind shear. It is currently forecast to become a hurricane again by tonight, and additional strengthening is expected before it reaches the Texas coast on Monday.”
(6:45 p.m. ET) Ports Closed Ahead Of Beryl
Ports along the Texas coast took precautions on Sunday ahead of Tropical Storm Beryl's anticipated return to hurricane status. Corpus Christi's port closed under "Zulu" conditions set by the Coast Guard, halting all vessel and cargo operations due to expected hurricane-force winds. Located 200 miles from Houston, Corpus Christi is crucial for U.S. crude oil exports, meaning these closures could potentially impact shipments to refineries and fuel supplies.
Ports in Houston, Galveston, Freeport and Texas City also are operating under "Zulu" conditions, suspending inbound vessel traffic. Officials say these measures aim to safeguard maritime operations as the storm approaches.
(5:40 p.m. ET) What Makes Beryl So Historic?
From weather.com digital meteorologist Madeline Scheinost:
“Beryl became the earliest hurricane on record in the Atlantic when it formed on June 30th. It also was the strongest hurricane by wind speed when it passed by St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. Following its Windward island landfall, it became the earliest Category 5 Atlantic basin hurricane on record on July 1. The next day, it reached wind speeds of 165 mph - making it the strongest July hurricane by wind speed on record in the Atlantic basin.”
Since initially forming as a tropical depression on June 28th, Beryl has continued its path toward the United States, despite some weakening and restructuring. When it makes landfall in Texas, it will be 10 days old.
(4:45 p.m. ET) Emergency Officials: The Countdown Is On
Chief Nim Kidd from Texas Emergency Management provided a live update on The Weather Channel on the state's readiness efforts.
"We believe we're about four and a half hours from the impact of tropical storm-force winds somewhere along the Texas coast," Chief Kidd stated in a briefing. "We have resources staged across key areas from Corpus Christi to San Antonio, and down into the Houston/Galveston region, ready to support local partners."
The primary concern is ensuring people are out of harm's way before the storm intensifies. "The most important thing right now is to help get the message out," Chief Kidd emphasized. "Beryl has been a deadly storm. We do not want it to be a deadly storm in the state of Texas. We have time now to get a message out, to get our people prepared, and to make sure they have the resources they need to go through this event."
Emergency shelters have been opened, and Chief Kidd urged those still in coastal areas to heed evacuation instructions promptly. For those unsure about traffic conditions, drivetexas.org offers real-time updates on congestion and evacuation routes.
"For those that are along the coast, we know that we're going to get hurricane-force winds that are gonna go through the area. If the forecast holds true, there will be about 6-12 hours of hurricane force winds," Chief Kidd warned. "If you have not left yet, you've only got about four and a half more hours to do that."
(4:30 p.m. ET) Key Messages From The National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued its key alerts ahead of Beryl's landfall, stressing that all hurricane preparations should be "rushed to completion." Officials highlighted life-threatening storm surge, localized flooding and hurricane-force winds as major dangers from this storm. Several Hurricane Warnings are in effect.
The advisory encouraged residents to follow advice from officials and heed all evacuation orders sooner rather than later.
Dangerous rip currents are also a notable hazard expected from the storm. "Beachgoers should heed warning flags and follow the advice of lifeguards and local officials before venturing into the water," warned the NHC advisory.
For more up to date information, visit hurricane.gov.
(4:00 p.m. ET) Houston Schools Cancel Summer Activities
Summer classes and other activities are canceled Monday and Tuesday in Houston public schools as Beryl approaches.
“HISD is closing all campuses and buildings Monday, July 8, and Tuesday, July 9, due to Tropical Storm Beryl and its potential impacts to our region,” the district said in a social media post.
Houston ISD is the biggest school district in Texas and the 7th biggest in the U.S.
(3:30 p.m. ET) Crucial Dam Needs Repair Ahead Of Beryl
In addition to storm surge along the Texas coast, Hurricane Beryl is expected to bring flooding to rivers and creeks inland. That’s raising new concerns about Lake Livingston Dam, which is on a "potential failure watch" due to flooding earlier this year.
Crews are now scrambling to make repairs to the damaged dam before Beryl hits the area. Houston - which is increasingly in Beryl’s path - urgently depends on Lake Livingston and the Trinity River for drinking water. Officials say they’re confident initial repairs will be finished before Beryl's rain hits the region hard on Monday, assuring there’s no immediate danger of dam failure.
(1:58 p.m. ET) Officials, Residents On Notice
A disaster declaration was announced for 121 Texas counties ahead of Beryl's arrival. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a statement Saturday, "Beryl is a determined storm, and incoming winds and potential flooding will pose a serious threat to Texans." Patrick is acting governor while Gov. Greg Abbott is in Taiwan.
All along the coast, businesses big and small were boarding up in preparation for Beryl. Many homeowners were doing the same in triple-digit heat. Lines were seen at gas stations as people fueled up ahead of the storm.
(10:45 a.m. ET) Preparations Underway
Emergency management officials In Galveston issued an order calling for the voluntary evacuation of the island's west end. In a statement the city said storm surge could prevent travel on major roads and "make it difficult for the city to respond to emergencies." They also advised that the Causeway Bridge is open and will remain open.
Early Sunday morning, crews moved lifeguard towers, trash bins, portable restrooms and other "mobile amenities" from Galveston beaches. This work was happening just days after the Fourth of July holiday, which park officials said was the busiest day of the year for their beach cleaning teams.
Nueces County, which includes cities like Corpus Christi and Port Aransas, ordered all visitors in the area to evacuate by noon Sunday. County officials strongly encouraged residents to evacuate as well. Ferry operations in Port Aransas were also suspended at noon on Sunday.
MORE: Gators Relocated Ahead Of Beryl In Texas
(9:35 a.m. ET) Getting Ready For Beryl
Refugio County issued a mandatory evacuation order for its nearly 7,000 residents, noting that the area is still recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
Beryl made history as the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic.
It is blamed for at least 11 deaths as it roared through the Caribbean earlier in the week. It slammed Mexico as a Category 2 storm before moving into the Yucatan peninsula as a tropical storm.
