Texas braces for Beryl as experts warn the storm could strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico: Live updates

Beryl has weakened to a tropical storm but is expected to regain strength over the weekend

Hurricane Beryl on path for Yucatan Peninsula, Gulf of Mexico

Beryl is heading toward Texas after making landfall at the popular Mexico tourist destination Tulum on Friday morning with 85mph winds and dangerous storm surge.

Tropical Storm Beryl is set to bring dangerous rip currents to the Gulf Coast over the weekend before likely hitting southern Texas late Sunday. The storm will likely re-strengthen into a hurricane as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico, the National Weather Service said. Beryl is expected to hit Texas as a Category 1 hurricane, according to Accuweather.

Governor Greg Abbott warned Texans to prepare for impact.

“As Texans and visitors in south coastal areas celebrate Independence Day, I urge them to also make an emergency plan to stay safe,” Abbott said.

Hurricane Beryl has killed at least eleven people, the Associated Press reports. Two of those killed — the first in St George’s, Grenada and the second in Hanover, Jamaica — died after hurricane-force winds knocked trees onto their homes.

Hurricane Beryl devastated Jamaica on Wednesday, knocking out power to 400,000 and destroying buildings. Grenada was also left with “unimaginable” destruction after the storm passed through Monday, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said, leaving 98 percent of buildings damaged or destroyed.

Key Points

• Tropical Storm Beryl to hit Gulf of Mexico within hours
• Mapped: Beryl’s path
• Beryl on path to hit Texas by late Sunday
• Texas governor directs residents to make ‘emergency plan’ for Beryl
• Beryl downgraded to tropical storm
• Beryl death toll rises to eleven

[6 July 2024 00:00 · Katie Hawkinson]

World Central Kitchen sends aid to Carriacou Island

World Central Kitchen, a disaster relief non-profit, has sent a support team to Grenada’s Carriacou Island in the wake of Hurricane Beryl.

The storm “flattened” the island in half an hour on Monday, officials said, after it swept through the region as a Category 5 hurricane.

[5 July 2024 23:30 · Katie Hawkinson]

Hurricane Beryl death toll rises to 11, no deaths reported in Mexico yet

Hurricane Beryl has killed at least 11 people in the eastern Caribbean, the Associated Press reported Friday morning.

At least two of those killed — the first in St George’s, Grenada and the second in Hanover, Jamaica — died after hurricane-force winds knocked trees onto their homes. Hurricane Beryl caused widespread destruction in Jamaica, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines this week.

There have been no reports of injuries or deaths from Hurricane Beryl in Mexico, according to Laura Velázquez Alzúa, coordinator of civil protection.

Authorities are already out on the streets assessing the damage the strong winds have caused, particularly in the popular holiday destination of Tulum.

[5 July 2024 23:00 · Katie Hawkinson]

ICYMI: Texas governor directs residents to make ‘emergency plan’ for Hurricane Beryl

Beryl is set to hit southern Texas by late Sunday night, and Governor Greg Abbott is warning residents to make a plan for the weekend as they celebrate July 4.

“As Texans and visitors in south coastal areas celebrate Independence Day, I urge them to also make an emergency plan to stay safe,” Abbott said on X.

While Beryl weakened to a tropical storm today, it is expected to restrengthen after it settles over the Gulf of Mexico this weekend. Southern Texas will start to see storm conditions by Sunday night, the National Weather Service said.

The governor has also directed the state’s Division of Emergency Management to increase their readiness level on Friday morning.

“Texas is prepared to quickly deploy all available emergency response resources to assist at-risk communities,” Abbott said.

[5 July 2024 22:30 · Katie Hawkinson]

Yucatan Peninsula reeling after Beryl strikes

Beryl, which made landfall as a Category 2 near the tourist destination of Tulum on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula early Friday, knocked down trees and power lines through the region.

More than half of Tulum has no power, according to Laura Velázquez, national coordinator of Mexican Civil Protection. Hurricane-strength conditions downed trees and powerlines throughout the region. Authorities are still out on the streets assessing the damage the strong winds have caused.

The storm spared many of the five-star resorts in the area but devastated many low-income coastal communities, The Washington Post reports.

However, no deaths have been reported in Mexico as of Friday afternoon.

[5 July 2024 21:55 · Katie Hawkinson]

Tropical Storm Beryl to hit Gulf of Mexico within hours

The center of Tropical Storm Beryl is expected to arrive in the Gulf of Mexico in the coming hours, the National Weather Service said moments ago.

There, Beryl is expected to re-strengthen into a hurricane by Sunday. The storm will create dangerous riptides along the Gulf Coast before hitting southern Texas on Sunday evening.

[5 July 2024 21:30 · Katie Hawkinson]

See It: Hurricane Beryl churning towards Mexico on July 4 before it made landfall on Friday

This satellite image obtained from the NOAA shows Hurricane Beryl on July 4 heading to Mexico (NOAA/RAMMB/AFP via Getty Images)

[5 July 2024 21:00 · Katie Hawkinson]

Shocking aerial photos show widespread devastation as Beryl moved through Caribbean

Beryl ripped through the Caribbean and devastated communities in Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines on Monday - with shocking aerial photos showing the widespread damage.

[5 July 2024 20:30 · Katie Hawkinson]

In pictures: Beryl hits Tulum, Mexico

A man unclogs a drain in a flooded street after Beryl, now a tropical storm, hit Tulum Mexico on Friday (AP)

National Guard vehicles drive through flooded streets in Tulum, Mexico on Friday (REUTERS)

Power lines lie on a road in Tulum, Mexico after Hurricane Beryl on Friday (AFP via Getty Images)

[5 July 2024 20:00 · Katie Hawkinson]

Mexican officials share first pictures of damage caused by Beryl

Quintana Roo’s Governor Mara Lezama shared images of Beryl’s impact after it made landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula early Friday morning.

While Beryl caused drastic damage and devastation to Caribbean countries such as Grenada’s islands, so far the tropical storm has delivered damage to the impacted Mexican region such as a gas station slanting over, toppled trees, debris on the coastline and utility poles crashing down.

Authorities in the area are still warning people to stay indoors as they are still in a ‘red alert,’ while strong winds continue to pass through the region.

[5 July 2024 19:30 · Katie Hawkinson]

Rapid analysis shows Beryl impacted by climate crisis

Beryl, now a tropical storm as it hits Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, was made 10-30 percent more intense due to human-induced climate change, according to a rapid analysis study by Climameter.

Beryl’s higher intensity was also driven by natural weather patterns in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, according to the Climameter study.

Beryl made history the earliest recorded Category 5 hurricane this week.

“It’s really scary stuff,” Steve Maximay, a climate and agriculture expert in Grenada, previously told The Independent.

”When you talk about Category 4 and 5, there are very few systems or protocols that can prepare you for that,” Maximay continued. “You can have resilient buildings but category five winds can move concrete structures.”

Hurricane Beryl’s growth into a Category 5 storm can be partly attributed to record-warm ocean temperatures. High water temperatures can contribute to sea level rise and hurt marine life in addition to fueling strong storms like Hurricane Beryl. Ocean temperatures will likely continue to rise even if we curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to NOAA.

Island nations are at the front lines of the climate crisis, given their vulnerability to violent storms and sea-level rise.

The Alliance of Small Island States, an organization designed to create a unified voice for small island nations to address the ongoing climate crisis, denounced the climate crisis and its impact on island nations.

“We continue to be sacrificed on the frontlines of a climate crisis we did not cause,” the statement said. “Our sea temperatures grow warmer, encouraging storms to strengthen at alarming speed and increasing the dire threat to our developing countries. The increased danger is evident for the world to see.”