Texas cleans up after deadly Beryl slams state before tracking north as post-tropical cyclone
Beryl was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone after it made landfall in Texas on Monday morning as a hurricane, with its path showing it to have impacts across the central US throughout the week
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Eight people have died, and millions more in Texas could be left without power for days while Beryl moves northeast.
After making landfall in the United States as a Category 1 hurricane on the coast of Matagorda on Monday morning, Beryl was downgraded to Tropical Storm then to a Depression and now as a post-tropical cyclone as it traversed inland across eastern Texas, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds and life-threatening conditions.
Around eight people are believed to be dead as a result of the storm, including seven in Texas and one in Louisiana.
This includes a civilian employee of the Houston Police Department, who was killed when he was trapped in flood waters under a highway overpass, Houston Mayor John Whitmire said.
More than 2.2 million customers were without power around Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city, after Beryl blew through, according to CenterPoint Energy.
Acting Texas Governor Dan Patrick said the electric company was bringing in additional workers to help restore power more quickly.
Beryl has already left a trail of destruction as a Category 5 hurricane through Mexico and the Caribbean.
Parts of the Midwest could see tornadoes, while the northeastern US could be hit with flash floods.
WATCH: Drone footage shows Houston roads submerged as Hurricane Beryl passes through Texas
Houston faces heat advisory as residents swelter without AC
The National Weather Service Houston warned that the heat index could reach a scorching 106 degrees as residents are left without power — and air conditioning.
The agency urged locals to take things slowly and carefully, given the high heat: “Stay hydrated. Wear light, loose-fitting clothing. Take breaks in shaded areas or in air conditioning. Cleanup during cooler hours if possible.”
To help beat the heat, the city of Houston announced that it was opening cooling shelters on Tuesday. “People without adequate transportation to a designated cooling center can call 3-1-1 to request a free ride. Transportation is only to and from the cooling centers,” the release said.
The city also urged residents to stay off the roads and to work from home as clean up from Beryl’s destruction is underway.
Beryl breaks record as strongest hurricane to form in the Caribbean this season since 1850
Last week, Beryl broke a record, becoming the strongest hurricane to form in the Caribbean for this time of the year since at least 1850, according to a study by ClimaMeter.
Beryl became a Category 5 hurricane “unusually early in the year,” on July 3, the study says.
Scientists say climate change caused the storm to become even more severe.
“The intense rainfall and hurricane force winds that led to massive destruction...was made up to 10-30% more intense due to human-induced climate change and other factors,” according to the study.
The storm was a Category 1 hurricane when it made landfall in Texas on Monday as is now moving northeast after it’s been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone.
At least eight have died as a result of the storm.
Officials have been warning locals impacted by Beryl to stay inside if possible — especially as Texas could see temperatures soar up to over 100 degrees.
In photos: The aftermath of Beryl
Post-tropical cyclone Beryl heads north
Areas spanning from mid-Mississippi to the lower Ohio Valleya are at risk of flash flooding and tornadoes on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
The Category 1 hurricane pummeled Texas on Monday, leaving residents without power.
Now, the storm is considered a post-tropical cyclone, and is heading northeast.
Flood watch is in effect for parts of northern Arkansas, central and southern Missouri, Illinois, western Kentucky, northern Indiana and southern Michigan.
Beryl leaves tornadoes, floods, and devastation in its wake
Texans are left to clean up the mess created by Beryl, which pummeled Houston on Monday.
The storm left millions without power or AC — just in time for triple-digit-heat to plague the state. Houston announced that it had opened several cooling shelters across the city on Tuesday as refuge. CenterPoint Energy said it was hoping to restore power to 1 million impacted customers by Wednesday night.
The heat aside, floods and downed power lines have created ‘deadly hazards,’ the NSW warned. Texas officials have been urging residents to stay at home and off the roads, if possible.
Outside of Texas, tornadoes are possible as early as today in parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
In photos: Texas is left to clean up the destruction left in Beryl’s wake
Beryl should serve as ‘trial run’ ahead of the height of hurricane season, meteorologist advises
Beryl may have been the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season — but Texas should learn from it as hurricane season approaches.
Houston opened cooling shelters for residents — especially the 2 million of those who are now without power or AC as temperatures soar to 100 degrees.
“We should absolutely be treating Hurricane Beryl as a trial run for what could come,” Space City Weather meterologist Matt Lanza told the Houston Chronicle.
Planning ahead for the next storm, like stocking up on resources or figuring out an evacuation plan, is crucial heading into active hurricane season, Lanza told the outlet.
“I imagine a lot of people will leave at the first sign of another storm,” the meteorologist said. “On the other hand, some people may have seen that wind...and decided it’s not that bad and they’ll stay put.”
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