Beryl leaves Houston area after killing 4, officials say

1 min

MATAGORDA, Tex. — Tropical Storm Beryl pulled away from Houston after pounding the city and region with intense winds and rain, but it spared the area from widespread destruction. City and state officials said that the storm killed four people — including one city employee — and that it may take several days to restore power. Beryl made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane about 4 a.m. Central time Monday near Matagorda and was downgraded to a tropical storm later Monday morning, the National Hurricane Center said. It is expected to weaken further and stop being a tropical storm Tuesday.

Key updates

Skip to end of carousel

Houston Mayor John Whitmire (D) said that one person died in a fire caused by lightning and that a Houston Police Department employee drowned on the way to work. Falling trees killed two others, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) said.

Nearly 2.7 million people in Southeast Texas have no power, according to poweroutage.us. Almost all customers in Brazoria, Matagorda and Wharton counties are without power.

Beryl is expected to move over eastern Texas on Monday, then through the lower Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Meteorologists are predicting an unusually active hurricane season this year. Experts say intense storms are occurring more frequently because of climate change, and warmer ocean surfaces tend to feed hurricanes.

1/4

Skip to end of carousel

Houston Mayor John Whitmire (D) said that one person died in a fire caused by lightning and that a Houston Police Department employee drowned on the way to work. Falling trees killed two others, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) said.

Nearly 2.7 million people in Southeast Texas have no power, according to poweroutage.us. Almost all customers in Brazoria, Matagorda and Wharton counties are without power.

Beryl is expected to move over eastern Texas on Monday, then through the lower Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Meteorologists are predicting an unusually active hurricane season this year. Experts say intense storms are occurring more frequently because of climate change, and warmer ocean surfaces tend to feed hurricanes.