Hurricane warnings have been issued for much of the Texas coast as Hurricane Beryl intensifies, following a devastating path through the Caribbean that left 11 dead.
Beryl’s Deadly Caribbean Impact
Last week, Beryl, the earliest recorded Category 5 hurricane, ravaged Jamaica, Grenada, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, causing widespread destruction and claiming at least 11 lives. The storm toppled buildings, downed power lines, and left communities struggling to recover.
While the storm weakened after its destructive passage through the Caribbean, it has regained strength, becoming a Category 1 hurricane as it crossed the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Forecasts predict it could intensify further, reaching Category 2 status by the time it makes landfall near Houston on Monday.
NHC Warning and Governor’s Declaration
“Additional strengthening is expected before landfall on the Texas coast,” the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned in its latest advisory.
Acting Governor Patrick declared 120 counties as disaster areas ahead of the storm, cautioning that Beryl “will be a deadly storm for people directly in its path.”
Disruptions and Preparations
The approaching storm has led to school closures, including the state’s largest in Houston, and the cancellation of hundreds of flights. Some evacuations have been ordered in beach towns.
The closure of major oil-shipping ports around Corpus Christi, Galveston, and Houston could disrupt crude oil exports, refinery shipments, and motor fuel production.
Impact on Offshore Oil and Gas Production
Most of the northern Gulf’s offshore oil and gas production is east of Beryl’s forecast track, potentially sparing it from the worst of the storm’s impact. However, some oil producers, including Shell, have evacuated personnel from their Gulf of Mexico offshore production platforms as a precautionary measure.
Citgo Petroleum Corp has stated its intention to maintain minimum production at its Corpus Christi refinery as the storm moves up the coast. Gibson Energy, which operates a large oil terminal in Corpus Christi, reported continued operations but is prepared to take further steps based on the evolving forecast.