Tropical Storm Beta: Warning issued for Southeast Texas

HOUSTON — The Texas coast can expect heavier showers and rain in the late morning and through the afternoon and evening Monday as Tropical Storm Beta continues its path west-northwest.

There is a Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Harris, Wharton, Fort Bend, Matagorda, Brazoria and Galveston counties. 

Galveston County was under a Tornado Warning that expired at 1:30 p.m.

Beta is now moving at 7 mph, up from 6 mph, according to the 1 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center. Max sustained winds have slowed to 45 mph, down from 60 mph the night before.

The storm is expected to make landfall on Monday evening near Port Lavaca, which is about 100 miles southwest of Houston. There was little change in its projected path overnight. Once inland, the storm will move northeast along the coast through Wednesday, becoming a depression by the time it reaches Houston.

Beta is located about 45 miles southeast of Port O’Conner and 65 miles south-southwest of Freeport.

Get alerts: Download the KHOU 11 news app to have alerts on Beta sent to your phone

Earlier Sunday, tropical storm warnings were extended further inland for the Houston area, as the center of the forecast cone has the storm passing directly over us.  

Periods of fast moving, heavy rain are expected to continue late Monday morning into the afternoon/evening and into Tuesday. Coastal flooding in low-lying areas is the greatest threat with this system so far.

RELATED: What is storm surge and why is it so dangerous?

At this time we are not expecting widespread flooding issues across our inland communities. Because of this, the City of Houston has not set up any emergency shelters.

You will see in the images below that all of the Greater Houston Area is under a Flash Flood Watch, and our coastal communities are under a Storm Surge Warning.

Watch: Part of the 61st Street pier is ripped away in rough seas off Galveston

The latest: Updates on TS Beta from across the Houston area

“As Beta continues to get closer to the coastline and turn north, some of the rain bands in the Houston area will get a little more intense,” said KHOU 11 Meteorologist Chita Craft.

Our primary concern with this system will be isolated spots of street flooding during those heavy downpours and flooding/storm surge in our coastal communities. Areas inland could receive up to 7 inches of rain as Beta moves up the coast over the next 24 to 48 hours.

**Text STORM to 713-526-1111 for updates on Tropical Storm Beta**

BETA GETTING CLOSER TO THE COAST OF CENTRAL TEXAS… …RAIN BANDS WITH TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WIND GUSTS SPREADING ONSHORE THE CENTRAL AND UPPER TEXAS COASTAL AREAS…

LOCATION…28.1N 96.0W 

ABOUT 45 MI…75 KM SE OF PORT OCONNOR TEXAS 

ABOUT 65 MI…110 KM SSW OF FREEPORT TEXAS 

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…45 MPH…75 KM/H P

RESENT MOVEMENT…WNW OR 295 DEGREES AT 7 MPH…11 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…999 MB…29.50 INCHES

The Storm Surge Warning between Sabine Pass, Texas and Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge, La. has been discontinued.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for… * Port Aransas, Texas to Sabine Pass, Texas including Copano Bay, Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay, Matagorda Bay, and Galveston Bay.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for… * Port Aransas Texas to Morgan City Louisiana

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for… * Baffin Bay to Port Aransas Texas

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. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons 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.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within the next 36 hours.

———————-

At 1:00 PM CDT (1800 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Beta was located by NOAA Doppler weather radars and surface observations near latitude 28.1 North, longitude 96.0 West. Beta is moving toward the west-northwest near 7 mph (11 km/h), and this general motion is forecast to continue today. A decrease in forward speed and a sharp turn to the north and northeast are expected on Tuesday.  On the forecast track, the center of Beta will continue to move toward the central coast of Texas today and will likely move inland by tonight. Beta is forecast to remain close to the coast of southeastern Texas on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Recent data from an Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft and with Doppler weather radars indicate that maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 45 mph (75 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast before Beta reaches the Texas coast. Weakening is anticipated once Beta moves inland.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km) from the center. A Texas TCOON observing site at Port O’Connor, Texas, has recently measured a wind gust to 43 mph (69 km/h). A NOAA buoy located just east of Galveston, Texas, has recently reported a wind gust to 43 mph (66 km/h).

The estimated minimum central pressure based on recent data from the reconnaissance aircraft is 999 mb (29.50 inches).

———————-

Key messages for Beta can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT2 and WMO header WTNT42 KNHC.

STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide…Port Aransas, TX to Sabine Pass, TX including Copano Bay, Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay, Matagorda Bay, and Galveston Bay…2-4 ft Sabine Pass, TX to Ocean Springs, MS including Sabine Lake, Lake Calcasieu, Vermilion Bay, Lake Borgne, Lake Pontchartrain, and Lake Maurepas…1-3 ft Baffin Bay, TX to Port Aransas, TX including Corpus Christi Bay and Baffin Bay… 1-3 ft Mouth of the Rio Grande to Baffin Bay, TX…1-2 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin later this morning in portions of the tropical storm warning area. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the tropical storm watch area later today.

RAINFALL: Through Friday, Beta is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches with isolated totals of 15 inches from the middle Texas coast to southeast Louisiana. Rainfall totals of 3 to 5 inches are expected northward into the ArkLaTex region and east into the Lower Mississippi Valley through the end of the week. Flash and urban flooding is likely, as well as isolated minor river flooding.

TORNADOES: A tornado or two could occur today and tonight, near the middle to upper Texas coast or the southwestern Louisiana coast.

SURF:  Swells generated by a combination of Beta and a cold front over the northern Gulf of Mexico will continue along the coasts of Louisiana and Texas during the next couple of days.  These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.