According to reports, Hurricane Beryl made landfall along the Texas coast as a Category 1 storm on Monday (08 July) near Matagorda around 0400 hours local time, forcing the closure of major oil ports, and flight cancellations. Hurricane Beryl is located about 85 miles (135 km) south-southwest of Houston, Texas, and the maximum sustained winds are at 80 mph (130 km/h) as of 0400 hours local time.
More than seven million people across Eastern Texas, that includes the city of Houston are under a tornado watch until 1100 hours local time on Monday (08 July).
• School districts along the Texas Gulf Coast, including Houston’s, stated that they would be closed on Monday (08 July). The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County also suspended transportation service ahead of Beryl.
• The storm prompted closures or vessel traffic restrictions at multiple ports in cities from Houston to Corpus Christi. The ports of Corpus Christi, Houston, Galveston, Freeport, and Texas City stated that they closed after condition “Zulu” was set by US Coast Guard captains on Sunday (07 July).
• Significant power outages have been reported in Texas as Hurricane Beryl impacts the state. There were about 320,000 customers without power as of 0630 hours local time on Monday (08 July). Avail further power outage updates via https://poweroutage.us/area/state/texas
• Through Monday (08 July) morning, the following warnings are in place:
– a Hurricane Warning is in effect for the Texas coast from Mesquite Bay northward to Port Bolivar;
– a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Texas coast north of Port Bolivar to Sabine Pass;
– A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Mesquite Bay to Sabine Pass, including Matagorda Bay and Galveston Bay.
• Palacios and Galveston are under Hurricane warning, storm surge warning, tornado watch, and flood watch. Houston is under a tropical storm warning, flood watch, and tornado watch. Victoria is under a Hurricane warning and flood watch, whereas Corpus Christi is under a Tropical storm warning.
• A flood advisory has been issued for Dallas, which will be in effect until 0800 hours local time on Monday (08 July). Some locations that will experience flooding include Dallas, Mesquite, Desoto, Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Lancaster, Balch Springs, Seagoville, Glenn Heights, Hutchins, Sunnyvale, Wilmer, Ovilla, Ferris, Combine and Sand Branch.
• As of 0606 hours local time on Monday (08 July), a total of 1,331 flights were canceled and 505 flights were delayed. Airlines in the United States canceled more than 1,300 flights as Hurricane Beryl intensified and made landfall in Texas. United Airlines canceled 406 flights, and Southwest Airlines canceled 268.
• Residents in Harris County, Texas — which includes Houston — have been urged to take shelter from 0000 until 1200 hours local time on Monday (08 July) as Beryl moves through the region. All county buildings will be closed on Monday (08 July).
• Fort Bend County will close all county offices on Monday (08 July) in preparation for Beryl’s effects in the greater Houston metro area. Offices are expected to open for ‘normal business’ on Tuesday (09 July).
