Hurricane Beryl Intensifies as It Approaches Houston, Warning of ‘Deadly Storm’ – Reuters

By Tyler Clifford

Hurricane Beryl has intensified as it approaches the Texas coast, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). This has led to the shutdown of major oil ports, flight cancellations, and warnings about the potential danger the storm poses to communities in its path.

Beryl, which became the earliest recorded Category 5 hurricane, previously swept through Jamaica, Grenada, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, causing widespread destruction, including the loss of at least 11 lives.

After causing significant damage in the Caribbean, the storm weakened but regained strength, becoming a Category 1 hurricane as it moved over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It is anticipated to reach landfall near Houston on Monday as a Category 2 storm.

The NHC cautions that further strengthening is expected prior to landfall. Acting Governor Patrick has declared 120 counties as disaster areas and warned that Beryl “will be a deadly storm for people who are directly in that path.”

School systems, including the largest in Houston, have announced closures, and airlines have canceled hundreds of flights. Evacuations have been ordered in some coastal towns.

The closure of major oil shipping ports in Corpus Christi, Galveston, and Houston could disrupt exports, crude shipments to refineries, and motor fuel supplies.

In terms of oil production, most offshore activity in the northern Gulf is positioned east of Beryl’s predicted path. Some oil companies, including Shell and Chevron, have evacuated personnel from offshore production facilities in preparation for the storm.

Citgo Petroleum Corp plans to maintain minimal production at its Corpus Christi refinery as Beryl approaches the coast. Meanwhile, Gibson Energy, which operates a significant oil terminal in Corpus Christi, continues its operations but will take additional precautions based on the storm’s forecast.