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Texas and Louisiana face fresh flood threat from Tropical Storm Beta

Sep. 22, 2020 07:24AM EST
 Dan Ackermann

Tropical Storm Beta was dumping heavy rains over Texas as it churned its way inland overnight, bringing the risk of "life-threatening storm surge" and flooding to parts of the state and Louisiana.

landfall in southeastern Texas

What's happening: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) made a disaster declaration and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) declared a state of emergency, as the states began feeling the impact of the slow-moving storm — which was causing coastal flooding along the bays including those near Houston and Galveston in Texas Monday, per the National Weather Service.

Found it!
Few miles away from popular @61streetpier we found portion that broke off last night due to rough surf caused by #TSBeta here on @GalvestonIsland beach.
Owner says pier was already damaged, so they purposefully cut end to prevent further damage. #khou11 #htownrush pic.twitter.com/vMGOg0X4PW

— Michelle Choi (@MichelleKHOU) September 21, 2020
"Flash, urban, and minor river flooding are likely from the middle Texas coast to southeast Louisiana due to Beta's slow movement. ... There is the danger of life-threatening storm surge through times of high tide through Tuesday along portions of the Texas and Louisiana coasts.
NWS
  • The 61st Street Fishing Pier in Galveston, Texas, broke off in high waves as the storm slowly approached over the weekend, the NWS noted.

The big picture: Beta is the 23rd storm this hurricane season and threatens a coastal region already ravaged by former hurricanes Laura and Sally in recent weeks. It made landfall in southeastern Texas late Monday.

  • Almost 9,000 people were without power Monday in southwest Louisiana, near the Texas border. They'd been without power since Laura struck last month, NPR notes.

Coastal flooding in San Leon, TX around 11:30 this morning. @NWSHouston pic.twitter.com/y4kWjfEHaB

— Ian Shelton (@IanShelton1997) September 21, 2020

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