Sweating Out Hurricane Beryl with SwampButt Underwear
Tropical Storm Beryl is in the Gulf of Mexico, and the cone of uncertainty continues to shift closer to the Greater Houston area.
Hurricane Hunter Aircraft reports Beryl has changed little in strength during the past few hours. Hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surge, and heavy rains expected in portions of South Texas.
The National Hurricane Center still predicts Beryl to become a hurricane before landfall, with Hurricane warnings for Matagorda and Corpus.
A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for Galveston, and is in effect for parts of Deep South Texas, including Cameron Island, Coastal Cameron, Coastal Kenedy, Costal Willacy, Kenedy Island and Willacy Island.
A hurricane watch has been extended from the Rio Grande to San Luis Pass.
A storm surge watch is extended to High Bay including Galveston Island.
Landfall is now projected to come on Monday between Port O’Connor and Matagorda Bay, but that could shift east again.
Harris County Judge Mark Henry has issued a disaster declaration.
Refugio County has issued a mandatory evacuation, with voluntary evacuations now in Nueces County.
Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta tells KTRH the biggest concern there is tides 3-5 feet above normal.
A voluntary evacuation recommendation is in effect for coastal Matagorda County including Matagorda, Sargent, and the waterfront of the City of Palacios.
A mandatory evacuation is in effect for Surfside Beach for all recreational vehicles including travel trailers, motorhomes, watercraft and Box/Utility trailers.
In preparation for landfall, Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to increase the readiness level of the State Emergency Operations Center to Level II (Escalated Response Conditions) effective Friday. A severe weather disaster declaration has been declared for 40 counties including Matagorda.