Tropical Storm Beryl continues to pose a threat to the Texas coast, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph as of the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. The storm is currently located approximately 130 miles south-southeast of Matagorda, Texas, and is moving to the north-northwest at 12 mph.
Beryl is expected to make landfall in the next 12 hours, just before dawn, between Corpus Christi and Galveston, Texas, near Matagorda. Forecasters anticipate that the storm will intensify and regain hurricane status before reaching land.
Tropical storm-force winds extend 115 miles from the center of the storm and are projected to reach the coast within the next few hours. Storm surge is already affecting the Texas coastline, with tides running 1-2 feet above normal levels. This surge is expected to increase significantly as the storm approaches, with up to 7 feet of surge predicted between Port O’Conner and San Luis Pass, including Matagorda Bay.
The National Hurricane Center has issued various warnings for the region, including a storm surge warning for several areas along the coast and hurricane warnings for parts of the Texas coast. Emergency managers are urging residents to prepare for power outages and have issued evacuation orders for low-lying areas in multiple counties.
Local authorities are taking precautions in anticipation of the storm's impact. Galveston has closed all city facilities and Houston is pre-staging crews in flood-prone areas. Residents are advised to stay off the roads after 10 p.m., and nonessential city employees have been instructed to work from home on Monday.
