Beryl made landfall on the middle Texas coast near Matagorda early Monday morning, bringing a dangerous storm surge and strong winds. The powerful storm moved over land around 4 a.m. Central Standard Time, according to the National Weather Service.
This is a developing story and will be updated. Earlier reports are below.
Beryl strengthened into a hurricane late Sunday as it headed toward southern Texas. The storm’s outer bands lashed the coast with rain and intensifying winds, prompting residents to prepare for its impact. The storm had already caused fatalities in parts of Mexico and the Caribbean.
The National Hurricane Center issued an update at 1 a.m. CST, placing the storm about 30 miles (48.2 kilometers) southeast of Matagorda, Texas, and about 95 miles (152.8 kilometers) northeast of Corpus Christi.
The hurricane’s top sustained winds were 80 mph (128.7 kph) as it moved northwest at 10 mph (16 kph). A hurricane warning is in effect for the Texas coast from Mesquite Bay north to Port Bolivar, according to the center.
Residents along the Texas coast boarded up windows and evacuated beach towns under official orders. The storm was expected to come ashore early Monday near Matagorda Bay, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) south of Houston, though officials cautioned the path could still change.
As the storm approached, Texas officials warned of potential power outages and flooding but expressed concern that not enough residents and vacationers in Beryl’s path had evacuated.
“One of the things that triggers our concern is that we’ve looked at all the roads leaving the coast and the maps are still green,” said Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is serving as acting governor while Gov. Greg Abbott is traveling overseas. “We don’t see many people leaving.”
Tropical storm winds extended 115 miles (185 kilometers) from the center, and the hurricane center warned residents to prepare for possible flash flooding in parts of middle, upper, and eastern Texas, as well as Arkansas, as the storm gradually turns north and then northeast later Monday.
