Beryl live updates: At least 4 dead, more than 2 million power outages reported in Houston area

What happened

• Hurricane Beryl made landfall as a Category 1 storm near Matagorda, Texas, early Monday.

• It is the 10th hurricane on record to make landfall in Texas in July.

• Beryl was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved inland, triggering flash floods and possible tornadoes.

• More than 2.7 million customers lost power in the Houston area, and as of Monday evening the number was still about 2 million.

• At least four deaths in Texas have been blamed on the storm so far.

What's next

• Beryl is expected to weaken as it takes a turn toward the northeast and will soon be downgraded to a tropical depression.

• The storm is expected to move through the Lower Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday.

• Weather forecasters and officials tracking Beryl are urging those in its path not to let their guard down.

Read more: Beryl knocks out power to more than 2 million, leaves 4 dead, after making landfall as Category 1 hurricane

Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced two more deaths from Beryl in an afternoon news conference. The deaths bring the total of those killed in the storm to at least four.

Whitmire said it was an "all hands on deck" situation for crews in the wake of the storm's destruction, and he urged residents to not venture outside if possible and to take care of their families and neighbors.

A storm surge warning caused by elevated water levels remains in effect for the Galveston, Texas, area, including Galveston Bay, north of San Luis Pass to Sabine Pass, which is east of Houston, according to the National Hurricane Center. There will still be considerable flash flooding throughout Monday night across some of the Upper Texas Coast and East Texas.

A tropical storm warning is also in effect for the Texas oast from north of Port Bolivar to Sabine Pass.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to about 45 mph, with higher wind gusts of 56 mph reported near Sabine Pass.

The center of Tropical Storm Beryl is moving northeast, out of southeast Texas, as of 3 p.m. CT, according to the National Weather Service center in Houston.

Conditions are reportedly improving as "light to moderate rain" continues farther inland. Cleanup in the region has begun following widespread damage.

Internet connectivity has been disrupted in the Houston area due to widespread power outages, according to Houston's NBC affiliate.

Comcast has offered free Wi-Fi hotspots in the region to help support residents.

Here's how to take advantage:

• View the hotspot location map at wifi.xfinity.com or download the Xfinity app from the App Store or Google Play.

• Select the network name “xfinitywifi” from the Wi-Fi menu to connect and launch your preferred browser.

The National Hurricane Center is warning Texas residents to "use caution and remain vigilant during the cleanup phase," even after Beryl leaves the area.

"Use Caution After the Storm as Deadly Hazards Remain Including Downed Powerlines and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning From Improper Generator Use," NHC wrote in a post on X Monday.

Here are some tips from the NHC for staying safe after Beryl passes:

• Clean up safely, but don't push yourself

• Follow the direction of officials if you have evacuated and want to return home

• Use generators outdoors and place them 20 feet or more from your home

• Brace for the potential of help and communications being unavailable

• Check on your neighbors

The National Hurricane Center reported Monday afternoon that maximum sustained winds from Tropical Storm Beryl had decreased to about 60 mph, with higher wind gusts up to 58 mph near the entrance to Galveston Bay. The NHC is now predicting that Beryl will become a post-tropical cyclone on Tuesday.

Meteorologists warn that flash flooding and gusty winds are still happening across eastern Texas.

A tropical storm warning and storm surge warning are also in effect for the Galveston area, including Galveston Bay, north of San Luis Pass to Sabine Pass, which is east of Houston.

Reuters reports:

Strong winds are still bearing down in eastern Texas, creating "very hazardous conditions," according to the National Hurricane Center.

Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport reported a wind gust of 81 mph at 12 p.m. CT.

Maximum sustained winds of 65 mph have also been reported around the area.

Bryce Newberry, a reporter for Houston's NBC affiliate, posted videos on X of damage around the Houston area caused by Beryl.

One video shows construction materials flying off of a high-rise structure in Houston's museum district. Newberry says the construction had been halted for several months.

Another video shows debris from Beryl that collapsed onto power lines in the South Loop part of the city.

A downed power line caused a possible electrical fire to break out at a Houston flea market, damaging four units of the market, Newberry reported. There were reportedly no injuries.

A man was rescued by Houston firefighters near the city's Astrodome after he became trapped in his pickup truck by floodwaters.

Nick Natario, a reporter from ABC's Houston affiliate, posted video and pictures on X that showed the man on top of his white pickup truck in the middle of high floodwaters that filled Texas state Highway 288 on Monday. The video shows the man in a life jacket putting a life preserver around his body. Pictures showed him being taken out of the water and helped to solid ground.

He was taken away from the scene by ambulance.

Weather forecasters tracking Beryl are urging those in the tropical storm's path not to let their guard down even as the storm weakens this week.

"Beryl has been a resilient storm ever since it exploded into a Category 5 hurricane in the Caribbean last week," Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather's lead hurricane expert, said in a news release. "People in the path of Beryl's track should not let their guard down this week. Beryl will bring the risk of tornadoes as far away as Ohio. Downpours from Beryl could also cause flash flooding as far north as Detroit, more than 1,100 miles from where Beryl made landfall in Texas."

The storm, which was downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm earlier Monday, is expected to continue weakening as it moves northeast from Texas through Arkansas and into Missouri and the upper Midwest.

Tropical Storm Beryl continues to cause widespread power outages in Texas as it moves inland.

According to PowerOutage.us, there are now more than 2.5 million customers without power, or roughly 20% of the state.

Tropical storm Beryl is continuing to move over eastern Texas Monday but will make its way through the lower Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Here's the latest from NHC's 10 a.m. CT advisory:

• Wind: Maximum sustained winds are near 70 mph, with higher "damaging wind gusts." The conditions are likely to continue within the tropical storm warning area for the next several hours.

• Storm surge: The combination of storm surge and tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach up to 4 to 6 feet in places like Freeport and Galveston Bay.

• Rainfall: The upper Texas coast and eastern Texas are expected to receive as much as 15 inches of rain into Monday night. Meteorologists warn of "considerable flash and urban flooding as well as minor to isolated major river flooding." Southeastern Oklahoma, Arkansas and southern Missouri are also expected to receive 3-5 inches of rainfall Monday night into Tuesday.

• Tornadoes: Parts of east Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas could experience several tornadoes through Monday night.

• Surf: Swells around eastern Mexico and the northern and western Gulf Coast of the U.S. are expected to cause "life-threatening surf and rip current conditions" into the next day.

A tornado watch that was issued along Beryl's path in Texas has been expanded to include parts of Louisiana and Arkansas, the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center said in its most recent outlook.

"Several tornadoes will be possible today, in association with Tropical Cyclone Beryl, from southeast Texas into northwest Louisiana and far southwest Arkansas," the center's forecast said, adding that there is "an enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms" for the same areas.

Earlier Monday, tornado warnings were issued for the Houston area. They were lifted late Monday morning.

The Harris County Flood Control District’s Flood Warning System continuously monitors rainfall and water levels in the Houston-based county.

As Beryl moves across Texas, bring with it life-threatening wind, rain and storm surge, Gov. Greg Abbott is on a previously scheduled trip to East Asia.

"While I am in Taiwan, South Korea & Japan working on business deals worth billions, I remain in daily contact with Texas Division of Emergency Management & local officials to ensure preparation for Hurricane Beryl," Abbott said in a post on X Sunday. "Your safety is our top concern."

After Beryl made landfall near Matagorda, Texas, early Monday, Abbott posted a photos from what he described as a "very productive afternoon in Seoul."

Hurricane Beryl pummeled the Texas coastline early Monday as a Category 1 storm, bringing with it life-threatening winds and and major power outages. Wind speeds were reported as high as 94 mph, and flood warnings were issued across several areas of the Texas coast.

As of 10 a.m. CT on Monday, Beryl had been downgraded to a tropical storm as it continued to move inland across eastern Texas.

Last week, Beryl emerged as the earliest Category 5 storm on record in the Atlantic, sweeping a path of destruction in the eastern Caribbean and Jamaica before crossing into Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula and the Gulf of Mexico. At least 11 people were reported killed in the Caribbean.

Here are some photos from Beryl's path:

President Biden called in to MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Monday and made no mention of Hurricane Beryl in an 18-minute live interview.

Biden was instead focused on his reelection campaign in the wake of his disastrous performance at last month's debate in Atlanta, and dismissing mounting calls for him to drop out of the race.

"The bottom line here is that we're not going anywhere," Biden said. "I am not going anywhere."

Biden is however "receiving regular updates" on the storm, a White House official said, adding that the administration is in "close contact" with state and local officials.

Powerful winds in Lake Jackson, a city in the greater Houston metropolitan area, have caused significant damage to roads and homes.

Robert Arnold, a reporter for NBC's Houston affiliate, posted videos on X of downed traffic lights and trees, and flooding, as heavy rainfall and powerful winds bear down on the community.

The National Hurricane Center has downgraded Beryl from a Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm, warning that life-threatening storm surges, damaging wind gusts, flooding and rainfall continue over eastern Texas.

Fire crews in Spring, Texas, a community 25 miles north of downtown Houston, are responding to downed trees and power lines, among other emergencies, as Beryl bears down on eastern Texas.

The Spring Fire Department posted photos on X of downed trees in front of residences in the community.

Hurricane Beryl continues to cause widespread power outages in Texas as it moves inland.

According to PowerOutage.us, a website that tracks power outages around the country, there are now more than 2 million customers without power in the state.

In Matagorda and Brazoria counties, where Beryl made landfall, nearly 100% of customers tracked by the website are out of service.

Here are safety tips from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for when you're experiencing a power outage during a storm:

• Do not use a gas stove or oven to heat your home.

• Turn off appliances and electronics to prevent electrical surge damage.

• Have a backup plan to refrigerate medicines and for medical devices that require power.

• Check with local officials about heating and cooling locations open near you.

• Stock up on batteries, nonperishable food items and water.

• Have flashlights for household members.

• Place generators outside and keep them dry and well-grounded. Don't plug them into your wall's outlet or a main electrical panel.

Hurricane Beryl is dumping heavy rain as it moves inland toward Houston, triggering flash flood warnings for the Woodlands and Spring communities, the National Weather Service said.

Officials with the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the state's Department of Transportation are urging drivers to not attempt to drive through floodwaters.

A wind gust of 94 mph was reported in Freeport, Texas, a beach city on the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center's latest advisory.

Eastern Texas also continues to experience "damaging winds, flooding rainfall and a dangerous storm surge" as well as "numerous flash flood warnings" for the greater Houston-Galveston region of the state.

Hurricane Beryl has caused widespread power outages in Texas as it moves inland.

According to PowerOutage.Us, a website that tracks power outages around the country, there are now more than 1.5 million customers without power in the Lone Star State.

A Houston-area man has died after a tree fell on the roof of his home, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

The 53-year-old man had been sitting in his home with his family "riding out the storm" when an oak tree fell onto the roof, trapping him under the debris, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez confirmed in a post on X.

His wife and kids were reportedly not harmed during the incident.

The Corpus Christi Caller-Times is providing webcam views showing the floodwaters rising in Galveston Island and the nearby region.

The National Weather Service in the Houston-Galveston region warned residents of high-rise buildings that powerful winds are being reported at high elevations. Accordingly, the agency urged those people in the region to avoid going out on balconies and to stay away from windows.

If you're in the potential path of Hurricane Beryl, there are some steps you can take to help prepare. Two of these steps, as Yahoo News reported over the weekend, include creating an emergency hurricane kit and an evacuation plan.

There are also important safety measures to take after the storm passes. These include:

Click here to read the full article.

Texans, particularly those along the state's vulnerable coastline, made preparations on Sunday for the Category 1 hurricane.

The Austin American-Statesman reported:

• Four unnamed hurricanes: (1866, 1891, 1934, 1943)

• Velasco (1909)

• Debra (1959)

• Claudette (2003)

• Dolly (2008)

• Hanna (2020)

Reuters reports that Hurricane Beryl has sparked widespread flight cancellations, with impacted airports including those in Austin, Corpus Christi, Harlingen and Houston:

Click here to read the full article.

Hurricane Beryl is bringing "extremely heavy rainfall" with it as it moves inland, the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center said in its latest update.

"Extreme rainfall rates of 2 to 4 inches/hour are exprected" as the storm moves north, the update said. "Expectations are for additional rainfall totals through midday of as much as 4 to 8 inches.

"Numerous to widespread areas of flash flooding can be expected, and this will include areas of considerable to severe urban flash flooding with life-threatening impacts expected," it added. "Some of the major metropolitan areas including the Houston/Galveston vicinity will be at particular risk over the next several hours."

The National Hurricane Center's latest update on Beryl includes the following watches and warnings:

• A hurricane warning is in effect for the Texas coast from Mesquite Bay northward to Port Bolivar.

• A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Texas coast north of Port Bolivar to Sabine Pass.

• A storm surge warning is in effect for Mesquite Bay to Sabine Pass, including Matagorda Bay and Galveston Bay.

Here is what they mean, per the NHC:

• A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

• A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area.

• A storm surge warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. This is a life-threatening situation. People located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.

According to the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center, Beryl is expected to significantly weaken as it moves inland across Texas on Monday and will likely be downgraded to a tropical storm as it approaches Arkansas Tuesday.

Hurricane Beryl has caused widespread power outages along the Texas coast.

According to PowerOutage.Us, a website that tracks power outages around the country, there are now more than 300,000 customers without power in the Lonestar State, most of them in Metagorda and Brazoria Counties, where Beryl made landfall.

Hurricane Beryl made landfall near Matagorda, Texas, as a Category 1 storm early Monday, the National Hurricane Center said in its 5 a.m. ET update.

The storm, with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, is moving inland over eastern Texas at about 12 mph. It is currently located about 70 miles south-southwest of Houston.

“Life-threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall is ongoing across portions of Texas,” the National Hurricane Center warned. “Damaging winds ongoing along the coast, with strong winds moving inland.”