Beryl Heads North As Tropical Depression Over The South-Central U.S.

After making landfall early this morning, Beryl is now a tropical depression as it moves over the south-central U.S. However, it will continue to produce breezy winds and flooding rains.

As of 10 p.m. CDT, Tropical Depression Beryl was located near 32.8 N, 94.3 W, or about 70 miles east-northeast of Tyler, Tex. Maximum sustained winds within Beryl remain 35 mph as it moves north-northeast at 17 mph. The minimum central pressure within Beryl was 999 mb, or 29.50 inches of mercury. 

Beryl, once a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, steadily weakened as it tracked across the western Caribbean and spent Friday crossing the Yucatan Peninsula after coming ashore early Friday morning near Tulum, Mexico. The interaction with land caused Beryl to weaken to a tropical storm. However, a lessening of wind shear and its continued path of warm water allowed it to strengthen to a hurricane again just hours before landfall over the Texas coast.

Beryl made landfall early this morning near Matagorda, Texas, just southwest of Houston. Now over northeastern Texas, it will interact with an upper-level weather system, forcing Beryl to turn to the northeast. This track will put the center moving over Arkansas tonight before heading through the Mid-Mississippi Valley and Midwest Tuesday and Wednesday.

As it continues to move over land, Beryl will lose its tropical characteristics completely by late Tuesday, becoming a post-tropical cyclone. While it will no longer be a tropical system, its impacts will still be felt in the Mid-Mississippi Valley and Midwest in the form of heavy rain and breezy winds.

Expect anywhere from 1 to 5 inches of rainfall for Mid-Mississippi Valley and Midwest on Tuesday and Wednesday. This rainfall will produce areas of flash and urban flooding, some of which may be locally considerable. Minor to isolated moderate river flooding is also expected.

In addition to the winds and flooding rain, there will also be a threat for tornadoes. Tornadoes will be possible mainly across southern to central Arkansas.

A Tornado Watches is in effect for southern to central Arkansas.

With the tropical season heating up, it should be taken as an indication that it’s time to prepare. Start organizing portable phone chargers, a radio, batteries, non-perishable food, water and blankets into an evacuation kit now. While fair weather is in your area, take the opportunity to scout out multiple evacuation routes from your area, in case your preferred route is traffic-jammed or blocked.