Hurricane Beryl Strengthens Again, Targets Southern Texas

Beryl regained hurricane strength late Sunday as it approached southern Texas, where its outer bands brought rain and increasing winds. Residents prepared for the storm, which has already caused fatalities in Mexico and the Caribbean, by boarding up windows and evacuating beach towns. The hurricane, with sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph) and moving northwest at 10 mph (16 kph), is expected to make landfall around Matagorda Bay, approximately 100 miles south of Houston.

Texas officials warned of potential power outages and flooding, expressing concern that many residents and tourists had not evacuated. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick noted that traffic leaving the coast was minimal, suggesting few people were heeding evacuation orders.

The storm’s tropical winds extended 115 miles from its center, with the National Hurricane Center warning of flash flooding in parts of Texas and Arkansas as Beryl moves north and then northeast.

Residents and businesses along the Texas coast took precautions, though uncertainty about the storm’s severity remained. In Port Lavaca, locals boarded up buildings and secured boats, recalling previous storms and preparing for possible storm surges.

Beryl, the earliest storm to reach Category 5 hurricane status in the Atlantic this season, has already claimed at least 11 lives in the Caribbean. Its rapid intensification highlights the extreme conditions of the Atlantic and Caribbean waters.

Texas officials issued warnings for the entire coastline, with the hurricane warning stretching from Baffin Bay to Sargent. Concerns of heavy rain, flooding, and power outages loom over areas already impacted by previous storms, such as Houston. A flash flood watch is in effect, with forecasts predicting up to 10 inches of rain in some areas and potential storm surges between 4 and 7 feet around Matagorda.

Travel disruptions are expected, with numerous flight delays and cancellations from Houston’s airports. Corpus Christi officials advised visitors to cut short their trips and residents to secure their homes. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has deployed emergency responders, search-and-rescue teams, and resources along the coast.

Voluntary evacuations were called in low-lying areas prone to flooding, and beach camping was banned. Beryl had earlier battered Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane, causing no injuries or deaths before weakening over the Yucatan Peninsula. Prior to that, it caused destruction and fatalities in Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Grenada, Venezuela, and Jamaica.

Associated Press reporters Margery A. Beck, Hannah Schoenbaum, and Julie Walker contributed to this report.