Hurricane Beryl Slams Texas with Deadly Force: 90 mph Gusts, Life-Threatening Storm Surge

Hurricane Beryl made its final landfall near Matagorda, Texas, early Monday morning as a Category 1 hurricane. The storm brought devastating winds, torrential rains, and life-threatening storm surges, leading to power outages affecting over 1.5 million residents and causing at least one death. The fatality occurred when a tree fell onto a home in the Kings River Village area, trapping a man inside while his family escaped unharmed.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued numerous warnings as Beryl’s winds reached up to 90 mph, with gusts causing significant damage across the region. The highest recorded gust was 94 mph in Freeport. The storm surge reached historic levels, with Upper Galveston Bay seeing water heights of 5.4 feet above mean high water. Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in parts of Houston, where 3-6 inches had already fallen, with forecasts predicting up to 15 inches in some areas.

As Beryl moves inland, the storm’s impact will be felt as far north as Michigan. The hurricane has already caused extensive damage throughout its path across the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, leaving a trail of destruction and at least ten fatalities. Emergency services and meteorologists continue to monitor the storm as it progresses.