Hurricane Beryl tracker: Death toll rises to 6 in Texas, over 2 million without power
Beryl is slamming Texas with powerful winds and torrential rain.
Tropical Storm Beryl is tearing across Texas after making landfall in the state as a Category 1 hurricane Monday morning.
At least six people have been killed by fallen trees or by drowning and more than 2 million customers are without power across Texas due to torrential rain and powerful winds.
Hurricane Beryl first killed at least seven people in the Windward Islands before skirting south of Jamaica, shutting down communications, stranding tourists and delivering storm surge and flooding rain to the island.
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Beryl becomes a hurricane again as it heads toward Texas
Beryl has become a Category 1 hurricane as it heads toward Texas, the National Hurricane Center announced just after midnight ET on Monday.
Hurricane Beryl's maximum sustained winds have increased to 75 mph. The storm is expected to strengthen before it makes landfall on the Texas coast.
Currently, Beryl is about 65 miles from Matagorda, Texas and 105 miles from Corpus Christi.
Beryl expected to become hurricane before reaching landfall overnight
Beryl remains a tropical storm with winds of 70 mph as of Sunday evening. However, the storm is expected to become a hurricane again before making landfall.
Currently Beryl is about 75 miles from Matagorda, Texas.
The storm is expected near Matagorda between 3 and 5 a.m. local time.
Beryl’s winds reach 70 mph as it heads toward Texas coast
As Texans brace for hurricane conditions, officials said Beryl currently has 70 mph winds as it moves toward the coast.
By Sunday evening, the tropical storm was located 105 miles southeast of Matagorda, Texas, moving northwest at a rate of 12 mph.
Officials urge Texans on the coast to evacuate
In a press conference Sunday, Texas Lt. Gov Dan Patrick urged people living on the state’s coast to evacuate before the storm hits.
"We don't see many people leaving," Patrick said. "You don't want to be on the road tomorrow."
Texas Division of Emergency Management officials said over 50 ambulances are on standby to assist with evacuating hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, if needed.
"This storm has already left nine deaths in its path through the Caribbean. We don't want number 10 to be in Texas," Patrick said.
2.7 million people still without power, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said at a Monday press briefing that 2.7 million people across the state are still without power and 10 transmission lines are down.
It will take "several days" to restore power, Patrick said, and the priority will be first restoring it in hospitals, nursing homes and the homes of people that depend on respirators or medical devices with failed generators.
Officials urged members of the public to stay inside and not drive.
Three people have been confirmed dead, two from falling trees and one from drowning.