Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Matagorda in the second-largest state Texas’ central coastline as a Category 1 storm the US National Hurricane Center confirmed Monday forcing the closure of major oil ports and flight cancellations.
In the latest briefing, NHC confirmed: "Beryl is expected to weaken to a tropical storm later today and to a tropical depression on Tuesday,". The once Category 5 storm was about 85 miles (135 km) south-southwest of Houston, packing maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph) it added. Acting Governor Dan Patrick has declared state emergencies in 121 counties and warned that the hurricane "will be a deadly storm for people who are directly in that path."
The storm claimed 11 lives sweeping through Jamaica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. More than 2 lakh customers under CenterPoint Energy’s service areas were without power, the New York Times reported. Power outages and strong surface winds with heavy showers causing flash floods are likely with Galveston receiving the heaviest rainfall.
Amid a tornado warning with the Beryl landfall, schools, including the state’s largest in Houston, were declared closed. In addition, major oil-shipping ports around Corpus Christi, Galveston, and Houston declared closure assuming a disruption in crude oil supply to refineries and exports.
How strong is a Category 1 storm?
A Category 1 storm, also known as a tropical storm, is the lowest category on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. It is characterised by sustained wind speeds ranging from 74 to 95 miles per hour (119 to 153 kilometres per hour). While a category 1 storm is considered a relatively weak hurricane, it can still cause significant damage, particularly to poorly constructed buildings, mobile homes, and vegetation, according to the National Hurricane Centre.
Debris and flood waters from Hurricane Beryl cover the main roadway in Surfside Beach, Texas. (Reuters)
Main impacts of Category 1 storm (NHC)
- Damage to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees
- Some damage to poorly constructed signs
- Some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage
- Power outages that may last several days
