HURRICANE BERYL HITS TEXAS: Storm Brings Heavy Rain and Strong Winds to the Lone Star State

Hurricane Beryl, the third hurricane of the 2023 season, made landfall in Texas on Friday morning, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to the region.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Beryl made landfall at around 10:00 a.m. CDT near the town of Matagorda, Texas, about 70 miles east of Houston. The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and was moving west-northwest at a speed of 15 mph.

The NHC issued a Hurricane Warning for parts of Texas, including the coast from Matagorda to Freeport, as well as a Tropical Storm Warning for areas further inland, including Houston and Galveston.

Residents of Texas were advised to take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their property from the storm. The city of Houston issued a mandatory evacuation order for low-lying areas and coastal communities, and the Houston International Airport was closed due to the storm.

As Hurricane Beryl made landfall, significant rain and wind were reported across the region. Heavy rain was reported in several areas, with totals of up to 4 inches reported in some areas. Strong winds were also reported, with gusts of up to 80 mph reported in some areas.

Emergency management officials in Texas were working to respond to the storm, with crews deployed to affected areas to assist with storm damage repairs and to help residents who may have been displaced by the storm.

The storm surge from Hurricane Beryl was also causing significant issues along the coast. The NHC reported that the storm surge was causing flooding along the coast, with waves as high as 6 feet reported in some areas. The flooding was causing issues for residents and motorists, and officials were urging people to avoid driving through flooded areas.

Despite the challenges posed by Hurricane Beryl, officials in Texas were grateful that the storm did not cause as much damage as had been feared. “We are grateful that the storm did not cause as much damage as it could have,” said Governor Greg Abbott in a statement. “We will continue to monitor the storm and work to assist those affected by it.”

As Hurricane Beryl continues to move west through Texas, residents are advised to remain vigilant and to take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their property from the storm.