Coastal residents of Texas are taking precautions as the outer bands of tropical storm Beryl bring rain and powerful winds to the state. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting the storm to strengthen back into a hurricane before making landfall in Texas early Monday morning.
A hurricane warning has been issued for much of Texas’ shoreline, prompting officials to urge tourists who are visiting beach towns for the Fourth of July holiday to evacuate immediately. The storm, which formed in the Atlantic and gained Category 5 strength, has caused widespread damage and at least 11 deaths as it passed through the Caribbean.
Storm surges and strong winds have ravaged homes in the affected areas, with Eric Blake, a senior hurricane specialist with the National Hurricane Center, warning that the storm will continue to deteriorate throughout Sunday evening. “We’re seeing the outer bands of Beryl approach the Texas coast now, and people should be in a safe location by nightfall,” Blake emphasized.
This will mark the 10th time a hurricane has hit Texas in July since 1851 and the fourth in the past 25 years, according to Phil Klotzbach, a researcher at Colorado State University. As the storm nears, residents are boarding up windows and preparing for the worst, as the storm is expected to bring significant damage to the area.
