Tropical Storm Beta heads towards Texas and Louisiana with 10million Americans given storm warnings
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Tropical Storm Beta steamrolled through the Gulf of Mexico with forecasts of flooding, heavy rainfall and storm surges expected to inundate Southern states, leaving more than 10 million American under storm warnings.
The National Hurricane Service on Sunday revealed that Tropical Storm Beta will likely make landfall Monday in the storm-battered states of Louisiana and Texas.
‘There is the danger of life-threatening storm surge near times of high tide through Tuesday along portions of the Texas and Louisiana coasts within the storm surge warning areas,’ NHC wrote on Sunday.
According to NHC, Beta will make landfall on the southeastern coast of Texas, including the beachside city of Galveston, after 1pm on Monday.
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Tropical Storm Beta continued through the Gulf Coast on Sunday at 60mph as it prepared to make landfall this week in parts of Texas and Louisiana
A Corpus Christi police officer in Texas places an emergency barricade down to close Laguna Shores Boulevard due to flooding related to Tropical Storm Beta, which is expected to affect parts of the state
Pictured: Cole Broom (right) stands on the beach near the intersection of Highway 124 and Highway 87 on the Bolivar Peninsula, Texas, watching the rough surf
Stacey Young (center) gives her daughter, Kylee Potts (left), a piggyback ride across the flooding Stewart Beach parking lot in Galveston, Texas, as Tropical Storm Beta brings heavy rainfall and flash flood threats to the state
Beta will remain a tropical storm as it spins across Texas’ coast to southwest Louisiana. Around 1pm on Wednesday, Beta will upgrade into a tropical depression before entering the Pelican State.
Once in Louisiana, Beta’s powerful winds and rainfall will overtake the state before extending into Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama.
Beta is forecast to reach those additional four states between Thursday afternoon and Friday afternoon.
Wind speeds as of 4pm CST on Sunday tracked at 60mph, but will drop to 25mph by Friday as it hovers over Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee.
Parts of Louisiana, specifically Lake Charles and the surrounding areas, are still reeling from the devastating affects of Hurricane Laura last month.
The 150mph monster of a storm left nearly a million residents without power, killed at least 10 people and drowned out several homes with rain water.
Damage sustained by Hurricane Laura will cost anywhere between $4million and $12million.
Places like Port Arthur, Texas, were also hit by the devastating hurricane but sustained less damage
Pictured: a graphic provided by the National Hurricane Service shows Tropical Storm Beta’s predicted path this week along the Gulf Coast
Four Corpus Christi, Texas, city workers load free sandbags for residents ahead of Tropical Storm Beta as the coastal area prepared for heavy rainfall and storm surges
But already, Beta has prompted flooding along parts of Texas and a number of storm warnings have left millions of Southerners on standby.
Photos taken in Galveston, a small island city situated 50 miles from Houston, showed residents already fighting on ocean water on Sunday afternoon.
Families who visited the beach for weekend fund were forced to drag their belongings through elevated waters, while small children were carried on their parent’s backs.
As large waves raged towards the shore, Corpus Christi authorities placed barricades along roadways to block traffic amid flooding and city workers loaded free sandbags into resident’s cars in preparation.
Some residential streets and parking lots were quickly submerged as Beta continued on its path.
Tyler Heads (left) toted his belongings through tidewaters as he and other beachgoers crossed the flooding Stewart Beach parking lot in Galveston, Texas, on Sunday ahead of Tropical Storm Beta
Pictured: a graphic provided by the Weather Channel shows cities in Texas and Louisiana that are expected to feel tropical storm conditions starting Monday
Weather officials forecast that Tropical Storm Beta will make landfall on Monday afternoon or evening, before continuing further inland throughout the week. Pictured: Steve and Linda Buser of Beaumont check out the rough surf on the beach near the intersection of Highway 124 and Highway 87 on the Bolivar Peninsula, Texas
Flood waters fill the parking lot near Virginia’s On the Bay in Port Aransas, Texas, where Gov. Abbot told residents to adhere to local officials advice on staying safe during the storm
Weather officials have sounded tropical storm warnings amid the worsening conditions from Port Aransas, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana, according to The Weather Channel. This includes the cities of Houston and Victoria, Texas, and Cameron, Louisiana.
Storm surge warnings were in effect from Port Aransas, Texas, to the Rockerfeller Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana.
The warnings also encompassed San Antonio Bay, Aransas Bay, Copano Bay, Matagorda Bay, Galveston Bat, Lake Calcasieu and Lake Sabine.
Beta’s force winds extended as much as 195 miles from the storm’s center, affecting cities like Galveston, Houston and Lake Charles.
Houston resident Lupe Don (center) removes his flip-flops while moving his car from the flooding Stewart Beach parking lot in Galveston, Texas on Saturday
Storm surge warnings were in effect from Port Aransas, Texas, to the Rockerfeller Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana, and include Galveston Bay in Texas. Pictured: Lyrick Gipson, 9, (pictured) races through the flooding Stewart Beach parking lot in Galveston
Weather officials announced that Tropical Storm Beta not longer has the potential to upgrade into a hurricane, leaving much of the Gulf Coast under tropical storm warnings
Pictured: a graphic provided by The Weather Channel outlined areas in Texas and Louisiana where flood alerts have been issued
The Weather Channel reports that Beta will likely come against dry air and wind shear that will stop any significant escalation before landfall. It is no longer expected to transform into a hurricane.
Both Texas and Louisiana’s governors issued warnings to their residents this weekend.
‘Prepare for heavy rainfall and the threat of storm surge and flooding in certain regions of the state due to Tropical Storm Beta,’ said Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards in a statement.
‘Many homeowners and business owners in the potential impact areas are already dealing with recovery from Hurricane Laura,’ the statement added.
Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas encouraged residents to adhere to local officials advice as they prepare for rain, flash floods and the possibility of isolated tornadoes.
The cross that stands on the beach near the intersection of Highway 124 and Highway 87 gets buffeted by the high seas on Bolivar Peninsula, Texas
The NHC revealed it ran out of names for the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season and began using the Greek alphabet for the second time in history
Pictured: Storm surges, categorized by place and expected rainfall, are shown in this graphic
‘The State of Texas is prepared to support communities in the path of the storm, where substantial amounts of rainfall and flash flooding are a significant threat. We will continue to closely monitor the storm and work collaboratively with officials to ensure our fellow Texans are safe,’ the statement read.
NHC reported that parts of Louisiana and Texas could see six to 12 inches of rainfall, with 15 inches possible in some areas.
Further away from the coast, people may experience between three and five inches of rainfall from the ArkLaTex area to the lower Mississippi Valley through Wednesday.
Flood alerts have been issued along the northeast Gulf Coast, including Houston, Lake Charles and New Orleans.
Beta was named hours after weather officials located Subtropical Storm Alpha was discovered last week.
The NHC revealed it ran out of names for the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season and began using the Greek alphabet for the second time in history.
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