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Tropical Storm Beta Draws Warnings in Gulf Coast States Tropical Storm Beta Draws Warnings in Gulf Coast States
(about 11 hours later)
Tropical Storm Beta moved up the edge of the Gulf of Mexico on Monday toward Texas and Louisiana, where it could bring a life-threatening storm surge, heavy rainfall and flooding, forecasters said.Tropical Storm Beta moved up the edge of the Gulf of Mexico on Monday toward Texas and Louisiana, where it could bring a life-threatening storm surge, heavy rainfall and flooding, forecasters said.
Several warnings were issued on Monday across sections of the Texas and Louisiana coasts still reeling from damage by Hurricanes Laura and Sally.Several warnings were issued on Monday across sections of the Texas and Louisiana coasts still reeling from damage by Hurricanes Laura and Sally.
Forecasters warned of storm surge and tropical storm conditions from Beta, which was moving at six miles per hour about 110 miles south of Galveston, Texas, early Monday morning. Maximum sustained winds were 50 miles per hour, with stronger gusts, the National Hurricane Center said. Forecasters warned of storm surge and tropical storm conditions from Beta, which was moving northwest at five miles per hour about 20 miles southeast of Port O’Connor, Texas, on Monday evening. Maximum sustained winds were 45 miles per hour, said Rich Otto, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Md.
The center of the storm was predicted to reach the coastline of Texas on Monday evening, between Corpus Christi and Freeport, said Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist with the center. Beta’s slow movement will keep the storm hovering over the Texas and Louisiana coasts, pelting the area with five to 10 inches of rain, he said.
The storm could unleash heavy rain along the Texas and Louisiana coasts, and possibly cause tornadoes, the center said. Meteorologists said it would most likely weaken as it moved inland, and remain close to the southeastern Texas coast on Tuesday. “Twenty-four hours from now it will be in roughly the same location,” Mr. Otto said.
The center of the storm was predicted to reach the coastline of Texas on Monday evening, between Corpus Christi and Freeport, said Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist with the National Hurricane Center.
The Hurricane Center issued a storm surge warning from Port Aransas, Texas, to the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Louisiana, near the state border.The Hurricane Center issued a storm surge warning from Port Aransas, Texas, to the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Louisiana, near the state border.
The coast may also be hit with heavy rain and a storm surge similar to the effects of other storms that have slammed the Gulf Coast this hurricane season, Mr. Feltgen said.The coast may also be hit with heavy rain and a storm surge similar to the effects of other storms that have slammed the Gulf Coast this hurricane season, Mr. Feltgen said.
The rainfall could “vary rather dramatically,” Mr. Otto said — some areas may receive “locally very heavy rainfall” while some may see much smaller amounts.
In Galveston, that expectation has spurred the city into action. For the past several days, crews have been preparing for the brunt of the storm by clearing debris from places where it could be blown around and clog drainage, Marissa Barnett, the city’s public information officer, said on Monday.In Galveston, that expectation has spurred the city into action. For the past several days, crews have been preparing for the brunt of the storm by clearing debris from places where it could be blown around and clog drainage, Marissa Barnett, the city’s public information officer, said on Monday.
Water is already rising in communities of the island city, which has a population of about 50,000 people. The high tides that have recently swamped the streets are rising even further as the storm churns toward the coast, and residents are bracing for more water, she said.Water is already rising in communities of the island city, which has a population of about 50,000 people. The high tides that have recently swamped the streets are rising even further as the storm churns toward the coast, and residents are bracing for more water, she said.
“Yesterday, homeowners may not have been able to get out of their homes from water,” Ms. Barnett said. “It is not uncommon for a lot of the areas to have standing water; it is just obviously worse with the storm.”“Yesterday, homeowners may not have been able to get out of their homes from water,” Ms. Barnett said. “It is not uncommon for a lot of the areas to have standing water; it is just obviously worse with the storm.”
The storm is expected to make landfall in the Matagorda Bay area, about 80 miles to the southwest of Galveston.
“We are not in the direct path when it makes landfall,” she said, “but we are going to be seeing the effects both through high tide and rainfall today and tomorrow.”“We are not in the direct path when it makes landfall,” she said, “but we are going to be seeing the effects both through high tide and rainfall today and tomorrow.”
Beta is expected to produce six to 12 inches of rainfall through Thursday, with isolated pockets that could total 15 inches from the middle of the Texas coast to southern Louisiana, the Hurricane Center said on Sunday.
The storm surge could be as much as four feet.The storm surge could be as much as four feet.
“The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline,” the center said.“The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline,” the center said.
Voluntary evacuation orders were issued on Saturday for the Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston.Voluntary evacuation orders were issued on Saturday for the Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston.
Beta, the 23rd named storm this hurricane season, formed after meteorologists exhausted the 21-name alphabetical list and switched to the Greek alphabet.Beta, the 23rd named storm this hurricane season, formed after meteorologists exhausted the 21-name alphabetical list and switched to the Greek alphabet.
This is only the second time the Hurricane Center has turned to the Greek alphabet for new names. The first was during the 2005 hurricane season, when meteorologists used six Greek names. That season had a total of 27 named storms.This is only the second time the Hurricane Center has turned to the Greek alphabet for new names. The first was during the 2005 hurricane season, when meteorologists used six Greek names. That season had a total of 27 named storms.
Beta formed on Friday, soon after the season’s alphabetical list was exhausted with Tropical Storm Wilfred and Subtropical Storm Alpha. It was the first time since 1893 that three storms developed in a single day, Mr. Feltgen said. The hurricane season is set to end on Nov. 30.Beta formed on Friday, soon after the season’s alphabetical list was exhausted with Tropical Storm Wilfred and Subtropical Storm Alpha. It was the first time since 1893 that three storms developed in a single day, Mr. Feltgen said. The hurricane season is set to end on Nov. 30.
Five storms have made landfall along the Gulf Coast this hurricane season: Cristobal, Hanna, Marco, Laura and Sally.Five storms have made landfall along the Gulf Coast this hurricane season: Cristobal, Hanna, Marco, Laura and Sally.
Hurricane Sally drenched the Florida panhandle and the Alabama coast on Wednesday as it made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane. Floodwaters reached above five feet in Pensacola, Fla., and more than 300 people were rescued in Escambia County, Fla.Hurricane Sally drenched the Florida panhandle and the Alabama coast on Wednesday as it made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane. Floodwaters reached above five feet in Pensacola, Fla., and more than 300 people were rescued in Escambia County, Fla.
Residents in Louisiana are still reeling from Hurricane Laura, a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall on Aug. 27 with 150 m.p.h. winds, carving a destructive path that residents compared to Hurricane Rita in 2005.Residents in Louisiana are still reeling from Hurricane Laura, a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall on Aug. 27 with 150 m.p.h. winds, carving a destructive path that residents compared to Hurricane Rita in 2005.
In May, scientists accurately predicted that this year’s hurricane season would be busy, with as many as 19 named storms. In August, government scientists updated their forecast, saying there could be as many as 25 named storms.In May, scientists accurately predicted that this year’s hurricane season would be busy, with as many as 19 named storms. In August, government scientists updated their forecast, saying there could be as many as 25 named storms.
Early last week, there were five named storms in the Atlantic — Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy and Vicky — a phenomenon that had not happened since September 1971, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.Early last week, there were five named storms in the Atlantic — Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy and Vicky — a phenomenon that had not happened since September 1971, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.
On Sunday, weather forecasters said Tropical Depression Wilfred, the last storm of the hurricane season’s exhausted alphabetical list, should weaken in the next few days and eventually dissipate.On Sunday, weather forecasters said Tropical Depression Wilfred, the last storm of the hurricane season’s exhausted alphabetical list, should weaken in the next few days and eventually dissipate.
Subtropical Storm Alpha, the first named storm this year using the Greek alphabet, was short-lived and made landfall in Portugal on Friday, Mr. Feltgen said.Subtropical Storm Alpha, the first named storm this year using the Greek alphabet, was short-lived and made landfall in Portugal on Friday, Mr. Feltgen said.
Neil Vigdor contributed reporting. Neil Vigdor and Bryan Pietsch contributed reporting.