Live Hurricane Beryl Tracking Updates: Category 1 Storm Makes Landfall on Texas Coast Near Houston

Authorities in Harris County, Texas, say one person has died in Humble after a tree fell on a home and trapped a man under the debris.

Preliminary information indicates that one person has been confirmed dead, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez wrote just before 8 a.m. Monday.

A 53-year-old man was sitting in his home with his family during the storm when an oak tree fell onto the roof and hit the rafters, causing the structure to fall on the man, the police chief said.

His wife and children were not harmed.

Gonzalez said he was in the field trying to get to the scene.

Hundreds of flights have been canceled at Houston airports, according to tracking data from FlightAware.

About 80 percent of flights (528) out of George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston were canceled, while 60 percent (123) of flights out of William P. Hobby Airport in Houston were also canceled.

80 percent of flights (16) were also canceled at Corpus Christi International Airport, and even in Dallas, 26 flights were canceled at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

“As the storm approaches and people plan to stay home and stay safe from the storm, we want to remind everyone that our airports are not equipped to serve as storm shelters. We lack the supplies and staff needed to accommodate people seeking shelter during the storm,” Houston Airports wrote yesterday. On X.

Meteorologists warned that flooding, severe storms and strong winds would affect Texas as Hurricane Beryl makes landfall.

In Freeport, the Mesonet weather station reported winds of 94 mph (151 kph).

Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Galveston Bay station recorded sustained winds of 73 mph (117 km/h) and a gust of 82 mph (131 km/h).

A USGS gauge at the Galveston Railroad Bridge recently indicated a flood level of 3.6 feet above average water height.

Officials continue to warn residents against driving under these conditions.

Multiple agencies are urging residents to stay put and not drive as flooding is expected to cover some roads in Texas.

Flash flood warnings remain in effect for Houston, Pasadena, Pearland, Lake Jackson, Bay City and Freeport, Texas this morning after the National Weather Service in Houston reported a large area of ​​6 to 8 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts possible.

Flash flooding and heavy rain have been reported in and around the Houston area, with the potential for strong, gusty winds and isolated weak tornadoes.

The Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has asked people to stay off the roads, but if you must travel, they advise giving yourself extra braking distance, slowing down, and making sure your headlights are on in rainy weather.

The office urged residents not to drive in high water, take extra precautions in tunnels and low-lying areas, and not to drive around barriers.

“If you encounter floodwater, do not wade into it, as there may be harmful debris, chemicals or animals in the water,” they said.

They also warned Texans to stay away from downed power lines and always assume they are still working.

The Houston OEM also advised that “six inches of fast-moving floodwater can topple an adult. It only takes 12 inches of rushing water to carry most cars, and only 2 feet of rushing water can carry SUVs and trucks. It is never safe to drive or walk through floodwater.”

The City of Houston is also asking citizens to stay off the road so rescuers can assist people in emergency situations.

“There will be inland flooding, and what we’ve found is that these inland freshwater floodings tend to be more deadly to our people than the actual storm,” Chief Met Officer Nim Kidd said at a news conference. “So please, please don’t drive through the water. Turn around. Don’t drown.”

Tropical Storm Beryl — which is expected to make landfall in southeast Texas as a Category 1 hurricane — could be a “deadly storm” for anyone in its path, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said during a news conference Sunday.

“The good news is that the storm looks like it’s going to move quickly across the state,” Patrick said during the press conference. “There will be heavy rain, but the storm will move quickly.”

He also said 121 counties are now covered by disaster declarations, allowing Austin to use state funds to help prepare for and respond to the storm.

Hours after Hurricane Beryl made landfall, Texas communities reported bearing the brunt of its impact after hundreds of thousands were left without power and streets were flooded.

the Houston city Reports said “about a million customers in the area were left without power” after heavy rains and windstorms hit the region.

At least 11,000 homes in Matagorda County were without power as Hurricane Beryl made landfall this morning, according to county spokesman Mitch Timms, who told county residents: NBC News.

“We’ve downed a tremendous amount of tree branches and power lines,” Thames said.

No injuries were reported in the area, but a number of vehicles were submerged in water due to the storm.

“We’re not done yet,” he said. “If people think we’re in the eye of the storm and the storm has passed… it’s going to come back on the other side with strong winds; it’s going to keep raining.”

Meanwhile, police in Rosenberg, outside Houston, say they are experiencing street flooding, downed trees, power outages and water rescues.

“Please stay off the roads.” Rosenberg police wrote:“One of our rescue vehicles was even hit by a falling tree while returning from a rescue operation.”

Ed Gonzalez, Harris County Sheriff, Reported Flooded roads.

The Houston Emergency Management Department also says there is a flash flood warning. “Please stay off the roads. Turn around and don’t drown,” it advised. Written on X.

The Cooperative Institute for Atmospheric Research at Colorado State University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (CSU/CIRA & NOAA) released satellite images of Hurricane Beryl’s arrival in Texas on Monday morning.

As Beryl approached Houston, its maximum sustained winds dropped to 75 mph (120 kph), meaning it remained just a fraction of a hurricane.

To be considered a Category 1 hurricane, a storm must have sustained winds of 74 mph (119 km/h), according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.

But that doesn’t mean dangerous weather isn’t imminent, as the National Hurricane Center warns that life-threatening storm surges, damaging winds, flooding and rain are currently sweeping across southeast Texas.

Beryl is currently located 40 miles (65 kilometers) southwest of Houston.

Heavy rains of five to 10 inches, with local amounts up to 15 inches, are expected across portions of the central and upper Texas Gulf Coast and eastern Texas today and into tonight, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Flash flooding in urban areas, as well as isolated, large river flooding, is also expected.

“Very heavy rainfall is expected to move northward this morning with flash flooding possible in select areas,” the Weather Prediction Center said Monday morning. “This will include areas of severe urban flash flooding with locally life-threatening impacts expected.”

“Some major urban areas including the Houston/Galveston area will be particularly vulnerable over the next few hours,” they added.

As Hurricane Beryl continues to move inland, parts of far southeastern Oklahoma, Arkansas and southern Missouri are also expected to see heavy rains of three to five inches tonight through Tuesday.

As for other potential weather events, the National Hurricane Center warns of a few tornadoes possible tonight along the upper Texas coast, and multiple tornadoes possible today across parts of eastern Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas.

Storm surges from Hurricane Beryl are expected to impact eastern Mexico and much of the U.S. Gulf Coast over the next two days, potentially causing life-threatening waves and storm surges.