LIVE UPDATES: Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in Matagorda County as Category 1 Hurricane

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – MONDAY, JULY 8 - 5:42 A.M. CT - Several fishes washed up ashore as Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Matagorda County.

MONDAY, JULY 8 - 4:00 A.M. CT - Conditions have calmed in Matagorda County after Hurricane Beryl made landfall. A second round of storms is expected to hit the area as the storm surge impacts the bay again. The storm is still moving through the region.

MONDAY, JULY 8 - 2:40 A.M. CT - Gage encounters the eyewall of Hurricane Beryl as it makes its way into the Texas Coast.

MONDAY, JULY 8 - 2:31 A.M. CT - The eye of Hurricane Beryl is nearing Matagorda County with strong winds and heavy lightning.

MONDAY, JULY 8 - 1:55 A.M. CT - Wind strengthens and heavy rain pours as the storm surge from Hurricane Beryl nears Matagorda County.

MONDAY, JULY 8 - 12:35 A.M. CT - As Hurricane Beryl crawls towards the Texas Gulf Coast, we just measured a wind gust at nearly 100 mph on Matagorda.

Our anemometer provided a reading of 93.9 mph. On a second and third attempt, the winds maxed out the unit’s ability to accurately measure wind speed.

As of the 1 a.m. CT advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Beryl continues to strengthen.

“Reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft and coastal Doppler radar data indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 80 mph (130 km/h) with higher gusts,” the 11 p.m. CT advisory reports. “Additional strengthening is expected before the center reaches the Texas coast. Significant weakening is expected after landfall.”

SUNDAY, JULY 7 - 11:00 P.M. CT - Beryl has once again regained Hurricane strength.

Hurricane Beryl is now a Category 1 hurricane, earning the status just hours before the forecast landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast.

The 11 p.m. CT advisory from the National Hurricane Center says radar sources and Hurricane Hunter aircraft have indicated wind speeds of 75 mph.

“Data from the National Weather Service Doppler radar near Houston, Texas, and reports from an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that Beryl’s maximum sustained winds have increased to near 75 mph (120 km/h),” the 11 p.m. CT advisory reads. “Based on these data, Beryl is upgraded to a hurricane. Additional strengthening is expected before landfall on the Texas coast.”

SUNDAY, JULY 7 - 7:20 P.M. CT - We have relocated to Matagorda, where Beryl is forecast to make landfall.

As we arrived, the National Hurricane Center just released their 7 p.m. advisory.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Winds speeds are 70 mph (a Category 1 hurricane is 74-95 mph)
• Pressure has dropped to 987 mb
• Forecasted landfall around Matagorda Peninsula

“Strengthening is expected, and Beryl is forecast to become a hurricane again tonight,” the National Hurricane Center said in their 7 p.m advisory. “Additional strengthening is expected before Beryl reaches the Texas coast early Monday.”

SUNDAY, JULY 7 - 4:20 P.M. CT - Businesses are boarding up their windows and closing early as Tropical Storm Beryl knocks on their front door.

As of 4 p.m., Beryl sits 135 miles away from Matagorda Bay, inching its way closer at 12 mph.

Businesses staying open to the last minute are now starting to close so they can finish their final preparation steps.

There is a voluntary evacuation for Calhoun County, Texas, where Port Lavaca sits along the Lavaca Bay.

SUNDAY, JULY 7 - 4:05 P.M. CT - The news 4 p.m. CT advisory on Tropical Storm Beryl is in from the National Hurricane Center.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• 65 mph winds
• 988 mb pressure
• Storm Surge values for some areas increased to 7 feet

Beryl continues to remain at tropical storm status.

However, there are signs of the system strengthening.

“Maximum sustained winds remain near 65 mph (100 km/h) with higher gusts,” the National Hurricane Center said in their 4 p.m. CT advisory. “Strengthening is expected, and Beryl is forecast to become a hurricane again tonight. Additional strengthening is expected before Beryl reaches the Texas coast early Monday.

One of the notable changes was the rise in Storm Surge values for certain areas. Here’s a breakdown:

• Port O’Connor, TX to San Luis Pass, TX - 4-7 ft
• Matagorda Bay - 4-7 ft
• San Luis Pass, TX to High Island, TX - 4-6 ft
• Galveston Bay - 4-6 ft
• Mesquite Bay, TX to Port O’Connor, TX - 3-5 ft
• High Island, TX to Sabine Pass, TX - 3-5 ft

Beryl remains a slow moving storm, churning away in the Gulf of Mexico at just 12 miles per hour.

Tropical Storm force winds should arrive in Port Lavaca and Matagorda Bay by 8 p.m. CT.

Impacts to the Houston area will begin around the same time with winds picking up in the early morning hours on Monday.

SUNDAY, JULY 7 - 3:05 P.M. CT - Outer bands from Tropical Storm Beryl are making their way on shore.

Timelapse video from Port Lavaca, Texas shows the showers coming and going.

Tropical Storm force winds will be arriving in Port Lavaca in the coming hours.

SUNDAY, JULY 7 - 12:45 P.M. CT - Winds are starting to pick up here in Port Lavaca, Texas.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm force winds could arrive here as early as 2 p.m. CT.

This could make it even more difficult for residents to wrap up any last-minute preparations.

In Port Lavaca, there is only two hardware stores. Only one of them was open on Sunday - Salemi’s Ace Hardware.

But before you hop in the car and head down there, they’ve pretty much sold out of all the big hurricane necessities.

“About 6:00 last night, we’ve finished just about everything we had,” said Store Manager Tony Tidrick.

Residents should be buttoning up any final preparations before Beryl starts impacting the region.

SUNDAY, JULY 7 - 10:00 A.M. CT - The message from the National Hurricane Center: “Preparations should be rushed to completion.”

Wording in the 10 a.m. CT advisory from the National Hurricane Center sets the tone for those making last-minute preparations.

Also released in the updated advisory is another downward trend in Beryl’s pressure. According to the NHC, Beryl now has a pressure of 992 mb.

“Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph (100 km/h) with higher gusts,” the NHC Public Advisory reads. “Steady strengthening is expected, and Beryl is forecast to become a hurricane again later today. Continued strengthening is expected overnight before Beryl reaches the Texas coast.”

Current forecast tracks have Beryl making its third and likely final landfall between Matagorda Bay and Port Lavaca, before moving right through the Houston area.

SUNDAY, JULY 7 - 7:00 A.M. CT - As Texas wakes up, Beryl continues to churn in the Gulf of Mexico.

As of the 7 a.m. CT update from the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Beryl sits roughly 225 miles from Matagroda, Texas.

While the latest advisory keeps Beryl as a tropical storm with 60 mph winds, the notice from the National Hurricane Center also has the storm slowing in movement.

According to data from NHC, Beryl is crawling at just 12 miles per hour.

This is bad news for two reasons:

1. This gives Beryl more time over warm Gulf waters which will aide in reorganization and reintensification
2. If the storm keeps up the slow pace, it means tropical storm and hurricane force winds will beat up the coast for longer

In Port Lavaca, Texas where Beryl is forecast to pass right over, the sun rose over a calm Lavca Bay, near Matagorda Bay.

By 2 p.m. on Sunday, we could be seeing Tropical Storm force winds move into the area.

That’s the reason why our hotel notified visitors that they have to leave Sunday morning.

Hotel staff delivered notices to every room saying, “The hotel is shutting down for the Hurricane Beryl.”

SATURDAY, JULY 6 - 10:00 P.M. CT - The 10 p.m. advisory from the National Weather Service is in, but there isn’t a lot of noticeable changes.

Houston and Harris County have been added to the Tropical Storm Warning.

While Beryl struggled to organize itself and strengthen itself on Saturday, we’re seeing signs of the tides turning.

Beryl’s pressure has dropped to 993 mb with signs of more convection as South Texas goes to sleep on Saturday.

By the time we sit down for lunch on Sunday, we could see Tropical storm-force winds.

The National Hurricane Center says the earliest reasonable time for Tropical Storm winds in Port Lavaca is 2 p.m. on Sunday. The most likely time is 8 p.m. on Sunday.

With that in mind, we’ll be keeping you up-to-date around the clock.

Check back soon for updates.

SATURDAY, JULY 6 - 8:45 P.M. CT - Galveston City leaders have issued a voluntary evacuation order on Saturday.

City Manager Brian Maxwell cites that a call with the National Weather Service noted that Beryl has grown in size, which might lead to bigger impacts for the Galveston area.

“Mayor Brown signed the order out of an abundance of caution,” said Maxwell in a press release shared with KPRC2.

READ THE FULL VOLUNTARY EVACUATION ORDER

The order is effective beginning at 10 a.m. on July 7th and is for residents and visitors west of 103rd Street not protected by Galveston’s Seawall.

SATURDAY, JULY 6 - 8:45 P.M. CT - We’ve arrived in Port Lavaca, Texas.

The small bay town in Calhoun County, a little over 100 miles away and a two-hour car ride from downtown Houston.

As of 8:30 p.m., there’s model consensus that the eye of Beryl could very well pass over Matagorda Bay and Port Lavaca.

We tried to stay closer to the Gulf of Mexico, in Port O’Connor, but the hotels we booked canceled on us after making the (very smart) decision to evacuate and close up.

According to data from the National Hurricane Center, the Port Lavaca area will see Tropical Storm force winds as early as 2 p.m. on Sunday.

By the time we wake up on Monday, Beryl will be making landfall.

SATURDAY, JULY 6 - 7:15 P.M. CT - Galveston Island is now included in the Storm Surge Warning issued by the National Hurricane Center.

In the NHC’s 7 p.m. CT update, they expanded the Storm Surge Warning to cover much of the Texas Gulf Coast.

Galveston is forecast to see up to five feet of storm surge.

Meanwhile, areas south could see up to six feet of surge.

Beryl is still forecast to strengthen to hurricane status before making its third landfall.

SATURDAY, JULY 6 - 4:00 P.M. CT - The Texas Department of Public Safety is preparing to help evacuating people if they get the call.

State Troopers spent the day on Saturday in San Antonio inspecting their buses ahead of any evacuation orders.

Local governments or counties would need to call in the Texas Department of Safety for help with evacuations ahead of Beryl.

SATURDAY, JULY 6 - 4:00 P.M. CT - The National Weather Service just issued a Hurricane Warning, Storm Surge Warning and Tropical Storm Warning ahead of what is forecasted to be Hurricane Beryl.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• A Hurricane Warning has been issued for the Texas coast from Baffin Bay northward to Sargent
• A Hurricane Watch has been issued for the Texas coast south of Baffin Bay to the mouth of the Rio Grande River and the Texas coast north of Sargent to San Luis Pass
• A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the Texas coast south of Baffin Bay to the mouth of the Rio Grande River, the Texas coast north of Sargent to High Island and the northeastern coast of mainland Mexico from Barra el Mezquital to the mouth of the Rio Grande River
• A Storm Surge Warning has been issued for the North Entrance of the Padre Island National Seashore to San Luis Pass, including Corpus Christi Bay and Matagorda Bay and San Luis Pass to High Island, including Galveston Bay
• A Storm Surge Watch has been issued for the Texas coast from the mouth of the Rio Grande River northward to North Entrance of the Padre Island National Seashore and San Luis Pass to Sabine Pass, including Galveston Bay

Beryl remains a at Tropical Storm status as millions across the Texas Gulf Coast prepare for the storm to arrive.

SATURDAY, JULY 6 - 3:15 P.M. CT - Galveston County is now under a disaster declaration.

The order was signed by Galveston County Judge Mark Henry on Saturday afternoon.

Galveston County could see up to four feet of storm surge from Beryl.

“I encourage all residents and visitors to stay tuned to local and credible news sources,” said County Judge Mark Henry. “If the storm goes to the west, it will be less impacts to us. If it goes more to the east, it will be greater impacts on us.”

SATURDAY, JULY 6 - 3:00 P.M. CT - The City of Port Aransas has issued a mandatory evacuation for residents.

According to a post on Twitter, the mandatory evacuation order being at 12 p.m. on Sunday, July 7.

SATURDAY, JULY 6 - 12:30 P.M. CT - Residents in Rockport, Texas aren’t willing to take any risk when it comes to Tropical Storm Beryl.

As you drive along the intercoastal, you’ll find home after home being boarded up with hurricane shutters and plywood.

One resident KPRC2′s Gage Goulding stopped to speak to says he saw what Hurricane Harvey did to the area.

This time around he’s not taking any chances.

Forecast models are leaning towards a landfall between Corpus Christi and Matagorda Bay. Rockport is nearly in the middle of the two.

SATURDAY, JULY 6 - 12:30 P.M. CT - The National Hurricane Center just received new information from the Hurricane Hunters aircraft team.

THE KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Hurricane Hunters report little change in Beryl’s strength
• Winds at 60 mph
• Pressure at 997 mb

Little to no change in strength is expected by the forecasters with the National Hurricane Center.

However, that will change before Beryl makes landfall as a hurricane along the Texas Gulf Coast.

On top of that, we can expect a slight change in direction.

“A turn to the northwest is expected later today, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest by Sunday night. On the forecast track, the center of Beryl is expected to approach the Texas coast by late Sunday into Monday morning,” reads the 1:00 pm CT advisory.

This advisory doesn’t bring any new watches or warnings.

Even though your home might not be within the cone, Tropical Storm force winds reach 125 miles from the center of the storm.

SATURDAY, JULY 6 - 12:00 P.M. CT - A mandatory evacuation for recreational vehicles has been issued for Surfside Beach in Brazoria County.

The evacuation notice was issued by the Surfside Beach Police Department, on behalf of Surfside Beach Mayor on Saturday morning.

According to a post on Facebook, the evacuation order is for all kinds of recreational vehicles.

“Per the Village of Surfside Beach Mayor Gregg Bisso, a mandatory evacuation is in effect due to the hurricane watch for all recreational vehicles, including Travel Trailers/Motorhomes, watercraft, and Box/ Utility Trailers. This includes all rental companies, which must remove Golf Carts/UTVs off the island no later than 9:00 a.m. July 7, 2024.”

SATURDAY, JULY 6 - 7:45 A.M. CT - We just got the new 10 a.m. CT advisory on Tropical Storm Beryl from the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Here’s the big changes:

• A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for portions of the Texas Gulf Coast
  • Mouth of Rio Grande River to Baffin Bay (just south of Corpus Christi)
• Pressure has dropped to 997mb
• Wind speeds of 60 mph

In addition to the Tropical Storm Warning, a Hurricane Watch and Storm Surge Watch remain in place for nearly all of the Texas Gulf Coast.

There isn’t much of a shift for the forecast cone, if any at all.

Current models as of 10 a.m. have Beryl striking the Texas Gulf Coast somewhere between Corpus Christi and Matagorda Bay as a hurricane.

While Beryl is still 460 miles away in the Gulf of Mexico, you wouldn’t even be able to tell a storm is coming if you walk the beach on North Padre Island.

“It’s all right. Nothing’s going to happen,” said Isvan Sigala of Andrews, Texas. “We’ll leave tomorrow.”

Vacationers were out early lining the shore, cooking up breakfast and getting ready to continue the 4th of July holiday weekend.

“I’m going to stay I’m gonna stick around, make sure everything’s my sister’s properties are all good,” added Mike Pfeiffer of San Antonio.

The next full update on Beryl will be released at 4 p.m. CT.

SATURDAY, JULY 6 - 7:45 A.M. CT - As many continue to celebrate the 4th of July holiday weekend, millions across the Texas Gulf Coast are preparing for what is forecast to become Hurricane Beryl again.

Overnight, the National Weather Service issued a few updated advisories, including new information at 7 a.m.

There is some good news for the Houston area.

It seems that the forecast tracks of Beryl have settled in (at least for now). We’ve seen this before, but have also noted consistent eastward tracks of Beryl.

However, for the better part of the overnight hours models have agreed upon a Texas landfall somewhere between Corpus Christi and Matagorda Bay.

Of course, this is always subject to chance. But at least it’s a little bit of a good sign for the Houston area.

Saturday is the day to make those preparations ahead of what should be a windy and rainy start to the week.

Those along the coast will see the brunt of the impacts.

Wondering if you should start your prep work? Here’s my go-to advice: Preapre for the worst and hope for the best.

FRIDAY, JULY 5 - 11:30 P.M. CT - Houston, I wish we had some better news to send you to sleep with.

The latest guidance from the National Hurricane Center shows yet another eastward jog of what will likely become Hurricane Beryl once again.

Simply put - this increases the probability of hurricane impacts to the Houston area.

• READ MORE: Beryl’s cone now includes Houston. Here’s what that means

The Hurricane Watch has been extended through portions of Brazoria County.

Meanwhile, the Storm Surge Watch has been extended through High Island in Galveston County.

Now is the time to prepare.

Voluntary evacuations are already underway in Matagorda County.

• EXPLAINED: Beryl is no Hurricane Harvey but the worry is -- it may be an Alicia

A failure to plan is a plan to fail.

Have a good night and we’ll check back in Saturday morning.

FRIDAY, JULY 5 - 9 P.M. CT - As Tropical Storm Beryl enters the Gulf of Mexico, the once Category 5 hurricane is expected to re-intensify before making a final landfall along the Texas Gulf Coast.

KPRC 2′s Gage Goulding is LIVE in Corpus Christi, Texas as the community prepares just two weeks after Tropical Storm Alberto battered the region.

While some locals are preparing by using the more than 14,000 sandbags made by Corpus Christi city workers, vacationers to the barrier islands are soaking in every bit of sun they can get.

This story will be updated to bring the latest reports from KPRC2′s Gage Goulding along the Texas Gulf Coast.