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News in brief

Beryl's Wrath Intensifies as Historic Hurricane Barrels Towards Texas Coast

Saturday 06 July 2024 - 13:00

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In a display of nature's fury, Tropical Storm Beryl, now the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin, has surged from its destructive path through the Caribbean and is now targeting the Texas coastline. As the storm moves into the Gulf of Mexico, officials urge coastal residents to prepare for a potential hurricane strike by late Sunday or early Monday.

Beryl, a storm of historic proportions, has already left devastation in its wake. After hitting the resort town of Tulum on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula as a Category 2 hurricane—toppling trees but miraculously causing no injuries or deaths—the tempest weakened to a tropical storm as it crossed the peninsula. However, the U.S. National Hurricane Center expects Beryl to regain hurricane strength in the warm Gulf waters, posing a significant threat to southern Texas.

As of Friday evening, Beryl sustained maximum winds of 60 mph and was located 615 miles southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, moving northwest at 13 mph. Forecasters predict the storm will intensify over the weekend, possibly becoming a hurricane again before landfall.

"The storm is likely to strengthen steadily over the weekend, with Beryl forecasted to reach hurricane status before hitting the coast," warned the hurricane center.

Beryl's projected path has prompted a hurricane watch along the Texas coast from the Rio Grande to San Luis Pass, just south of Houston, and along Mexico's northeastern coast from Barra el Mezquital to the Rio Grande. Texas officials are urging coastal residents to prepare for the storm's arrival.

"Hurricane conditions may occur in the watch area along the Gulf coast of northeastern Mexico and Texas by late Sunday," cautioned the hurricane center.

CBS Texas senior meteorologist Jeff Ray echoed concerns, suggesting Beryl's center could make landfall in South Texas as a Category 1 hurricane, potentially near Corpus Christi if the storm continues its northwesterly path.

In anticipation of the storm's impact, some Texas counties have issued voluntary evacuation orders for low-lying areas. Corpus Christi reported distributing 10,000 sandbags in under two hours on Friday, exhausting its supply as residents fortified their properties.

"This is a determined storm that remains strong," warned Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at a news conference, issuing a preemptive disaster declaration for 40 counties to aid emergency response planning and contracting.

Meanwhile, Jamaica and other islands are still recovering from Beryl's destructive path through the Caribbean. As of Friday morning, 55% of Jamaica remained without electricity, and most lacked running water, according to government reports.

On Union Island, part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, homes appeared destroyed and debris littered the landscape. A local resident, known as Captain Baga, described the storm's force, recounting how wind lifted and carried away two 2,000-gallon rubber water tanks he had secured.

"As a sailor, I never believed wind could do what I saw it do," he said, expressing disbelief. "If anyone had told me wind could do that, I would have called them a liar!"

As Beryl continues its relentless approach toward the Texas coast, officials and residents brace for a potentially historic hurricane strike, highlighting the unpredictable and devastating nature of these storms. With memories of past hurricanes fresh, the urgency to prepare and take precautions is paramount as the region readies for Beryl's imminent arrival.