Tropical Storm Beryl Approaches Texas Coast

Tropical Storm Beryl was approaching the coast of Texas on Sunday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Beryl was located at latitude 27.6°N and longitude 95.6°W which put the center about 75 miles (120 km) south-southeast of Matagorda, Texas.  Beryl was moving toward the north-northwest at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 986 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Mesquite Bay to Port Bolivar, Texas.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Mesquite Bay to Port Mansfield, Texas.  A Tropical Storm Warning was also in effect for the portion of the coast from Port Bolivar to Sabine Pass, Texas.

A Storm Surge Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Mesquite Bay to Sabine Pass, Texas.

Tropical Storm Beryl was strengthening slowly but steadily on Sunday evening.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Beryl’s circulation.  A circular eye with a diameter of 45 miles (75 km) was at the center of Tropical Storm Beryl.  The eye was surrounded by a broken ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms revolved around the center to Tropical Storm Beryl.  Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease slowly.

The circulation around Tropical Storm Beryl became more symmetrical on Sunday.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of Beryl’s circulation.

Tropical Storm Beryl will move through an environment that will be favorable for intensification during the next few hours.  Beryl will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C.   It will move under an upper level ridge over the Gulf of Mexico.  The upper level winds are weak in the ridge and there will be be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Beryl will continue to intensify during the next few hours.   Beryl is very likely to strengthen to a hurricane.  There could be a brief period of more rapid intensification if an inner core with an eye and and eyewall develops fully.

Tropical Storm Beryl will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over the southeastern U.S.  The high pressure system will steer Beryl toward the north during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the of Tropical Storm Beryl will make landfall on the coast of Texas on Monday.

Tropical Storm Beryl is very likely to be a hurricane when it reaches the coast of Texas.  Beryl will bring strong winds and heavy rain to parts of eastern Texas.  The strong winds are likely to cause power outages.  Up to 10 inches (250 mm) of rain could fall in some locations.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flooding.  Flood Watches were in effect for parts of eastern Texas.  Tropical Storm Beryl could also cause a storm surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) where the wind pushes water toward the coast.