Beryl downgraded to tropical storm after hurricane leaves millions without power in Texas

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said during a press conference on Sunday that Tropical Storm Beryl — which is expected to make landfall in southeast Texas as a Category 1 hurricane — could be a “deadly storm” for anyone caught in its path.

“The good news is that it looks like it will move quickly through the state,” Patrick said during the press briefing. “This will be a heavy rain event, but the storm will move quickly.”

He also said that 121 counties were now covered by disaster declarations, which allows Austin to use state funds to help prepare and respond to the storm.

Multiple agencies have pleaded with residents to stay put and not drive as predicted flooding has overwhelmed some roadways in Texas.

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

Flash flooding and heavy rain has been reported in and around the Houston area, with strong and gusty winds and isolated weak tornadoes still possible.

The Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has asked people not to be on the roadways, but if you must travel, they have advised to give yourself extra braking distance, slow down, and make sure your headlights are on in rainy weather.

The office has wanted residents must never drive into high water, taking extra precautions at underpasses and low-lying areas, and not to drive around barricades.

“If you encounter floodwaters do NOT wade in it. There may be harmful debris, chemicals or animals in the water,” they said.

They also have warned Texans to stay away from downed powerlines and always assume they are still live.

“Six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars and just 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters,” Houston’s OEM also advised.

The City of Houston is also asking people to stay off the road so first responders can assist people with emergencies.

“There will be inland flooding, and what we find is this freshwater inland flooding tends to be more of a killer of our citizens than the actual storm surge,” Chief W Nim Kidd said during a press briefing said. “So please, please do not drive through water. Turn around. Don’t drown.”

Weather experts warned that flooding, storm surge and strong winds would impact Texas as Beryl made landfall.

In Freeport, a mesonet station reported a wind gust of 94 mph (151 km/h).

Meanwhile, in Galveston Bay, a National Ocean Service station recorded a sustained wind of 73 mph (117 km/h) and a gust of 82 mph (131 km/h).

A USGS gauge at Galveston Railroad Bridge also recently reported an inundation of 3.6 ft above Mean Higher High Water.

Officials continue to warn residents not to drive in these conditions.

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

Around 80 per cent of flights (528) out of Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport have been canceled, while 60 per cent (123) have also been canceled at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston.

80 per cent of flights (16) at Corpus Christi International Airport are also canceled, and even over in Dallas, 26 flights have been canceled at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

“As the storm approaches and people plan to stay indoors and 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 to accommodate people seeking refuge during the storm,” Houston Airports wrote yesterday on X.

Authorities in Harris County, Texas have reported that one person has died in Humble after a tree fell on a house and a man got trapped under debris.

Preliminary information indicates that one person has been confirmed deceased, Ed Gonzalez, the Harris County Sheriff wrote just before 8am Monday.

A 53-year-old man was reportedly sitting in his house with his family riding out the storm, when an oak tree fell on the roof and hit the rafters, causing the structure to fall on the man, the sheriff said.

His wife and children are unharmed.

Gonzalez said he is out in the field and trying to make his way to the scene.

More than two million customers are experiencing power outages in Texas after Hurricane Beryl hit the region in the early hours of the morning, according to data from poweroutage.us at 9.42am CDT.

Matagorda, where Beryl made landfall in the US at 4am CDT, currently has over 14,000 with power outages, whereas in neighboring county Brazoria, also on the coast, over 42,000 customers do not have power.

As for Galveston, 65,000 customers are also experiencing power outages.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management warned on Sunday that some residents in the state’s southeast would potentially experience power outages when Beryl made landfall.

“There will be power outages. Let that be known. There is going to be some place in Texas that with these tropical and hurricane force winds, we are going to have power outages,” DEM Chief W Nim Kidd said during a press briefing.

He told residents to charge all of their needed devices before the storm and to ensure their vehicles were fueled up before landfall.

Kidd also advised that residents who rely on electrical medical equipment be moved to safe areas.

Beryl has now weakened to a tropical storm, losing its status as a hurricane, however, authorities warn that dangerous and life-threatening conditions are still very much a risk.

As of 10am CDT Beryl has now become a Tropical Storm. There still continues to be life-threatening storm surge inundation throughout the afternoon along the coast of Texas from Port O’Connor to Sabine Pass, including the eastern portion of Matagorda Bay and Galveston Bay.

Damaging wind gusts near the core of Beryl will continue to spread for the next several hours northward within the Tropical Storm Warning area, which includes the Houston metro area.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Texas coast from north of Port O’Connor northward to Sabine Pass.

A Storm Surge Warning is also in effect for Port O’Connor to Sabine Pass, including Matagorda Bay and Galveston Bay.

Considerable flash flooding and urban flooding are expected today and into tonight across portions of the middle and upper Texas Gulf Coast and eastern Texas.

Minor to major isolated river flooding is also expected.

Life-threatening beach conditions caused by rip currents are forecast across portions of the northern and western Gulf coasts through Tuesday, with beachgoers advised to heed warning flags and advice from lifeguards and local officials before going into the water.

A total of 1,950 flights across the United States have been canceled on Monday amid Beryl making landfall as a hurricane in the early morning.

While not all flights may be canceled due to the extreme weather, airlines are continuing to monitor the situation in Texas, which is currently bearing the brunt of Beryl’s impact.

United Airlines has so far canceled 409 flights today as of 11.20am CDT, tracking data from FlightAware shows.

“We are continuing to monitor Beryl and have reduced flying at Intercontinental Airport of Houston (IAH) Sunday night and Monday.” United Airlines said in a statement to NBC News.

Houston’s two airports still top the list with the most amount of flights canceled on Monday, according to the data.

Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport currently is seeing 80 per cent of its flights canceled, that is 531 flights in total as Beryl’s strong winds hit the region.

The William P. Hobby Airport in Houston also has 80 per cent of flights canceled, with 163 no longer going forward today.

Over 20,000 flights have been delayed today across the country.

A second person has died following a tree falling amid the dangerously strong winds that have already killed another mere miles away.

A 74-year-old grandmother was struck after a tree fell on her residence at the 17400 block of Rustic Canyon Trail in Houston, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said on social media.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim’s grandchild called the authorities after a tree fell through the roof of her grandmother’s room.

“Please keep her family in your prayers,” Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4 wrote on social media.

This comes hours after another person died in Humble after a tree fell on a house and a man got trapped under debris.

The 53-year-old man was reportedly sitting in his house with his family riding out the storm, when an oak tree fell on the roof and hit the rafters, causing the structure to fall on the man, the sheriff said.

His wife and children were unharmed.