(Corpus Christi) Tropical Storm Beryl is heading towards Texas on Sunday where it could be upgraded to a hurricane before making landfall on Monday morning, according to US authorities.
Several coastal communities, such as the city of Galveston south of the Houston metropolitan area, have issued voluntary evacuation orders.
Videos posted on social media showed lines of cars leaving the city on Sunday afternoon.
PHOTO RICH MATTHEWS, REUTERS
Chris Murphy fills gas cans in preparation for hurricane Beryl in Texas City on July 7.
“This is going to be a deadly storm for people in its direct path,” acting Texas Gov. Dan Patrick warned Sunday. “The good news is that it looks like the storm will move quickly across the state.” […]at least according to current projections,” he added to the press.
The White House said Sunday it was monitoring the situation.
PHOTO MARK FELIX, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Heavy clouds over Corpus Christi, Texas, on July 7
Storm Beryl left at least seven dead in its wake in the Caribbean and Venezuela at the height of its power.
“We expect constant strengthening and Beryl “is expected to become a hurricane again later today,” the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Sunday.
Up to 15 inches (380 mm) of rain is expected in parts of Texas, according to the center, which raised the risk of flash flooding.
First hurricane of the Atlantic season, which runs from early June to late November, Beryl is unusually powerful and early. Scientists say climate change, by warming ocean waters, makes it more likely that storms will intensify rapidly and increases the risk of hurricanes.