Flood and Tornado Threats Persist as Beryl Reaches for New England, Canada

Post-Tropical Cyclone Beryl covers parts of several midwest states along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers as it continues to move northeast, pictured at 10:10 a.m. (CT) on July 9, 2024. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

Fears of tornadoes and flooding continue to rise for states and communities in post-Tropical Cyclone Beryl’s path.

As of 4 p.m. (CT), the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports a tornado watch in effect for parts of middle Tennessee, Kentucky, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and southwest Ohio.

Several tornadoes are possible in this region tonight.

The persistent tornado threat comes after scores of warnings and sightings were reported across east Texas, northwest Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi over the past 24 hours.

In terms of rain, it is expected to drop up to four inches of heavy rainfall across a vast swathe of the continent over the next two days, stretching from southern Missouri, through the Great Lakes, and up to northern New England.

Heavy rainfall from Beryl is also expected in Canada, particularly in southern Ontario and Quebec.

Along with the rain comes persistent flood threats, and the NHC reports a flood watch is in effect for central and southeast Missouri, Illinois, far western Kentucky, northern Indiana, southern Michigan, northern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and western Maine.

The National Water Prediction Service reports moderate to major flooding on the stretch of the Mississippi River that borders Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa; and warns minor floods are likely in parts of Indiana and Michigan.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration radar indicates the rain bands are stretching to Lake Michigan and Lake Erie.

According to the National Hurricane Center’s (NHC) 4 p.m. advisory on July 9, Beryl has maximum sustained winds of around 30 mph and has increased its ground speed significantly from yesterday, moving northeast at 24 mph.

Little change in the storm’s strength is expected over the next 48 hours.

Beryl has been designated a post-tropical cyclone due to its losing strength, however, the NHC warns that post-tropical cyclones can still be dangerous.

The hurricane center stated in its late-morning advisory: “Flash flooding and risk of tornadoes remain possible.”

Beryl’s journey is now in its twelfth day. It emerged in the Atlantic Ocean as a tropical depression on June 28 and grew into a Category 5 storm with 160 mph winds by the morning of July 2.

It pushed across the southern Caribbean, hitting the windward islands, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands before crossing over Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula on July 5 as a Category 2 hurricane.

Eleven people across the Caribbean and Mexico have been reported killed.

Beryl entered the Gulf of Mexico as a tropical storm but regained hurricane strength before hitting southeast Texas on July 8 with sustained winds of 80 mph, storm surge, and torrential flooding.

In a 1 p.m. press briefing on July 8, acting Gov. Dan Patrick, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd confirmed the U.S. death toll due to Beryl was now up to seven, including two Texans who perished due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

More than 2.7 million people were also reported to be without power, but as of 6:45 p.m., more than 800,000 customers have had their power restored.

Persistent flooding and power loss are expected to continue in Houston and the rest of southeast Texas for the next few days.