By Matt Kyle
https://www.dallasnews.com
Hurricane Beryl weakened to a Category 2 as it approached the Yucatán Peninsula on Thursday, while many parts of Texas remain in the cone of uncertainty for the storm’s path.Daniel Huckaby, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office, said most of Beryl’s impact in the state will be felt Monday along South Texas, primarily in the Rio Grande Valley and along the Gulf of Mexico.
Strong winds, heavy rain and storm surges are possible in the Rio Grande Valley before the storm could move north and dissipate, bringing rain to Central and North Texas near the middle of next week, Huckaby said.
Beryl is projected to hit the Yucatán Peninsula on Friday before re-emerging over the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, according to the Weather Service.
Huckaby said forecasts are still early and may change as the storm moves. Huckaby noted that it is possible Beryl may move on a path closer along the Gulf Coast.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty,” Huckaby said. “So this far out, there’s still some paths that take it deeper into Mexico and even further up toward Houston.”
The potential path along the Gulf Coast prompted Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday to direct the Texas Division of Emergency Management to issue an advisory notice warning travelers ahead of the July 4th weekend.
Abbott also directed state emergency response councils to prepare for the potential impacts from the storm, which could be felt as early as Sunday.
“Texas stands ready to deploy all available resources and support to our coastal communities as Hurricane Beryl approaches the state,” Abbott said in a news release.
Huckaby said anyone vacationing along the Gulf of Mexico should keep an eye on the weather forecast and be aware of any inclement weather the hurricane may bring.
A TDEM post on X warned of rip currents that could be created because of the storm. Weather Service officials said rip currents could create life-threatening beach conditions along the coast through the weekend.
Beryl is the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and ends November 30.
This story, originally published in The Dallas Morning News, is reprinted as part of a collaborative partnership between The Dallas Morning News and Texas Metro News. The partnership seeks to boost coverage of Dallas’ communities of color, particularly in southern Dallas.
