Houston is pummeled by Beryl's deadly winds exceeding 80 mph and torrential rainfall.

 Officials cautioned that it might be several days before electricity is fully restored. The storm has triggered tornado alerts across East Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas.

Beryl brought heavy rain and strong winds to the Houston area on Monday morning, leading to widespread power outages and at least three fatalities, local officials reported.

The storm made landfall near Matagorda around 4 a.m. Monday as a Category 1 hurricane, with winds reaching 80 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. By 10 a.m., it had been downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved northward through the Houston region.
By mid-afternoon, Beryl's rain and winds had largely moved out of the metro area, although flooding affected many bayous and roadways. CenterPoint Energy’s online outage tracker indicated that over 2.2 million homes and businesses in the Houston area remained without electricity. Tragically, at least two deaths were reported due to fallen trees.
Meteorologist Eric Berger from Space City Weather noted improvements in creek and bayou conditions as the rain tapered off throughout the day. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo highlighted power outages, flooding, and road conditions as the most pressing concerns. She anticipated restoration estimates from CenterPoint on Tuesday and announced plans to open shelters for affected residents.

Meanwhile, Hidalgo advised residents in the Houston area to remain indoors through Monday night.

"Stay where you are unless absolutely necessary," she emphasized Monday afternoon. "There are numerous hazards out there—debris, standing water. Sometimes you might not realize until it's too late that there's high water you can't navigate."

Tragically, a 53-year-old man in Humble lost his life when a tree fell on his home Monday morning, reported the Harris County Sheriff's Office. According to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the man was inside with his family when the oak tree crashed through the roof.

Another fatality occurred in northwest Houston near FM 1960 and Kuykendahl Road, confirmed by Gonzalez and Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey. A 74-year-old woman was fatally injured when a tree collapsed onto her residence.

Mayor Whitmire announced a third death in the afternoon, revealing that a Houston Police Department employee became trapped in high water after exiting I-45 while en route to work in the morning.

Later in the afternoon, Hidalgo mentioned that first responders were collaborating with the Fire Marshal and County Engineer’s Offices to evaluate Beryl's impact.

"These assessments are crucial for us to determine if we meet the thresholds for federal assistance for our residents," she explained. "Government buildings may be affected, and there are roads that urgently need clearance."

Looking ahead, Hidalgo highlighted the looming challenge of heat due to widespread power outages.

"The heat is now the major concern. It will be extremely hot and humid, similar to recent weeks," she warned. "Restoring power remains our top priority."

She also noted that 7,000 utility crews from across the country were en route to assist in restoring power to the Houston area.

By around 10:30 a.m., numerous roadways throughout the area had become inundated with water, as reported by Gonzalez. Hidalgo, noting unexpectedly strong winds that toppled 11 power transmission towers, advised Houston residents to stay indoors until the afternoon and avoid windows.

Hidalgo disclosed that local officials had conducted nearly 50 high-water rescues by approximately 3:30 p.m.

Local television stations aired a dramatic rescue of a man stranded atop his pickup truck in swiftly moving waters on 288. Emergency responders utilized an extension ladder from a fire truck to lower him a life preserver and tether before safely bringing him to dry land.

"Our first responders are risking their lives; it's what they're trained for," remarked Houston Mayor John Whitmire.

METRO, the public transit provider for the Houston region, announced just before 1 p.m. that it had suspended all services for the remainder of the day.

                         Rainfall accumulations surpass 5 inches

As of 11 a.m. Monday, a tropical storm warning covered large portions of southeast Texas, including the Houston and Beaumont metro areas, along with a flash flood warning, as reported by the National Weather Service. A storm surge warning was also in place along the Gulf Coast from Galveston to Matagorda Bay.

The Harris County Flood Warning System indicated that significant parts of the Houston area had received over 5 inches of rainfall by Monday morning, with southern areas of the county experiencing 9 inches or more.

On Monday, over 1,000 flights were canceled at both Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports.

"As the storm approaches and individuals prepare to stay indoors and stay safe, we want to emphasize that our airports are not designed to serve as storm shelters," stated the Houston Airport System. "We do not have the resources or personnel to accommodate those seeking refuge during the storm."

Travelers are advised to contact their airlines for the most recent updates and alternative options for rebooking flights.

Healthcare facilities were affected by the storm.

According to the health system, St. Luke’s Health-Brazosport Hospital experienced power loss and damage on Monday morning. Some patients were transferred to other hospitals, with no reported injuries to patients or staff. The facility continued to provide emergency services using a generator.
While most hospitals and emergency rooms in the Houston area remained operational on Monday, many clinics and medical facilities closed due to the storm. Harris Health shut down its clinics and outpatient facilities, but Ben Taub and LBJ hospitals remained open.
All M.D. Anderson locations canceled patient appointments, though urgent procedures continued at its Texas Medical Center campus. Kelsey-Seybold closed all clinics for the day.
Houston Methodist and Memorial Hermann Health System hospitals remained open, but Memorial Hermann’s convenient care centers operated solely for emergencies. Additionally, Memorial Hermann’s other outpatient services, including imaging and sports medicine locations, were closed.