Where Is Hurricane Beryl Heading Next? What to Know About the Deadly Storm

Following the destructive impact of Tropical Storm Beryl in Houston, which flooded roads and highways and resulted in the tragic loss of lives in Texas and Louisiana, officials are facing challenges in restoring power for millions of residents as the region experiences a return of hot weather.

The storm, initially a Category 1 hurricane, made landfall in Texas early on Monday and weakened as it moved through the city and surrounding areas. Despite the decrease in intensity, the strong winds caused significant damage, leaving Houston residents reeling from the effects of the storm.

Numerous trees were knocked down by the storm, resulting in fatalities.

With sustained winds of 65 miles per hour and gusts exceeding 80 m.p.h., the storm caused widespread destruction, including the toppling of trees and branches throughout the city.

Tragically, two of the storm-related deaths in the Houston area involved trees falling onto homes, resulting in fatal injuries to the occupants.

In the Atascocita area northeast of Houston, a man lost his life when a tree fell on his house, while a 74-year-old woman met a similar fate in a neighborhood near Interstate 45. Additionally, in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, a woman was killed by a falling tree during the storm.

Unlike Hurricane Harvey, Beryl moved swiftly through the region.

Beryl brought heavy rainfall to Houston, causing flooding in drainage systems and on highways. While many areas experienced high water levels, the storm did not linger like Hurricane Harvey, which caused catastrophic flooding in 2017.

Despite the significant impact of the storm, Houston was spared from widespread flooding in residential areas. However, the main concern following the storm was the widespread power outages affecting millions of residents in the region.

Efforts to restore power to affected areas are ongoing.

CenterPoint Energy reported that over two million customers were without electricity, with no clear timeline for restoration. Around one in five electricity customers in Texas experienced power outages, predominantly in the Houston area.

Harris County officials, including Judge Lina Hidalgo, acknowledged the extensive power outages and emphasized the need for repairs to begin promptly. Thousands of electrical workers were prepared to address the outages, with additional assistance coming from outside the Houston area.

As the storm weakened and moved out of Texas towards Louisiana and Arkansas, the threat of tornadoes remained. Tornado warnings were issued for parts of East Texas and Louisiana, with reports of tornado activity in northeast Texas.

The impact of Beryl in the U.S. was less severe compared to the Caribbean.

While Beryl caused devastation across the Caribbean, resulting in numerous fatalities and extensive damage to infrastructure, its impact in the United States was relatively subdued.

Despite the weakening of the storm, the possibility of tornadoes persisted as it moved across the region. As Beryl continued its path through Louisiana and Arkansas, authorities remained vigilant in monitoring the situation.

Judson Jones contributed reporting.