Tropical Storm Beryl moved off the Yucatan Peninsula and into the Gulf of Mexico on Friday night, where it is forecast to track toward Mexico and southern Texas and regain hurricane strength along the way. the meteorologists said.
The storm, which was a Category 4 hurricane when he devastates parts of the Caribbean island nations of Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines weakened to Category 2 when they made landfall on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Friday.
It made landfall north of Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula at 6:05 a.m. local time with winds of 110 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. Photos shared by governor of Quintana Roothe coastal state where Tulum is located showed downed power lines, trees and flooding.
At 2 a.m. ET Saturday, the storm made landfall in the southern Gulf of Mexico with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, but those are expected to increase.
“We unfortunately expect to see environmental conditions ripe for Beryl to re-strengthen and regain hurricane strength,” National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said in a video update Friday.
Beryl is forecast to approach the Texas coast late Sunday, the hurricane center said.
The storm remained on the north side of its projected tracks, increasing the chance of hitting Texas.
A hurricane warning was issued Friday for part of the Texas Gulf Coast from the mouth of the Rio Grande River to San Luis Pass south of Galveston, which covers about 280 miles and includes the city of Corpus Christi. A storm surge warning covered the same area but extended to High Island.
Most of the Texas coast faced the possibility of a 3- to 5-foot storm surge, the National Hurricane Center said. The stretch from Baffin Bay to the Rio Grande was forecast to see between 2 and 4 feet.
A severe weather disaster declaration has been issued for 40 Texas counties due to the storm’s possible impacts. The statement allows for additional assistance if needed.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is acting governor while Gov. Greg Abbott is out of the country on a trade mission, said Friday that Beryl was a “very slow-moving storm.”
“Once it gets into the water, the storm will tell us more about where it’s going,” Patrick said.
The city of Corpus Christi and the South Texas resort town of South Padre Island were among the coastal communities distributing sandbags. Mayor Paulette Guajardo said the entire state is encouraged to prepare for Beryl to make landfall as a Category 2 hurricane, potentially along the coastal bend Sunday night or Monday morning.
Guajardo encouraged residents to stay informed and prepare for the impact of tropical storm-force winds on the area as early as Sunday afternoon.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that he will send nine firefighters from the state to help form the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s “Incident Support Team” ahead of Beryl’s arrival in South Texas.
The hurricane is responsible for nine deaths in Venezuela, Jamaica and the nations of the Windward Islands, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It caused severe damage to many homes in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, local officials said.
Beryl’s training and strength set records. Scientists say the rapid intensification process is becoming more common as climate change increases sea surface temperatures.
It was the first Category 4 hurricane on record to form in June and the first Category 4 storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Before Beryl, Hurricane Dennis was the first, having formed on July 8, 2005.
When Beryl strengthened into a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph this week, it became the strongest hurricane on record in July.
Kathryn Prociv It is Tangni Noriega contributed.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
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