By the numbers
As the storm has made its way inland, it’s lost some strength, causing it to be downgraded to a strong tropical storm around 10 a.m. July 8, according to a post by the National Weather Service on X, formally known as Twitter.
As of 11:30 a.m. July 8, rainfall totals range from 4-12 inches over the last 24 hours, with concentrated highs near the Sugar Land, Pearland and Friendswood areas, according to rainfall gauges on the Harris County Flood Warning System.
Real-time rainfall data from gauges can be found here.
Digging deeper
According to an 11:20 a.m. update from the NWS, widespread river and bayou flooding is ongoing. Water levels from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show major flooding at White Oak Bayou at Heights Boulevard, which peaked at 38.81 feet at 11:45 a.m. July 8.
A number of other bodies of water are expected to be at moderate flooding level, including:
- Caney Creek near the intersection of FM 2090 and Crockett Martin Road: anticipated to peak at 20.3 feet on July 9 at 4 p.m.
- Greens Bayou at I-45 North: peaked at 83.43 feet at 10:45 a.m. July 8
- Greens Bayou at Hwy. 59 North: peaked at 58.05 feet at noon July 8
- Langham Creek near the intersection of West Little York Road and Hwy. 6 North: anticipated to peak at 110 feet at 2 p.m. July 8
- Buffalo Bayou at Shepherd Drive: peaked at 32.13 feet at 12:30 p.m. July 8
Additionally, Houston TransStar is reporting roadway hazards, including debris, electrical repairs and high water at:
- Hwy. 90A at Hwy. 99
- I-45 North between Patton Street to Cavalcade Street
- Various spots on I-10, Hwy. 288 and Loop 610
What they’re saying
At a July 8 news conference, Harris County officials urged community members to stay safe through flooding events and reminded residents that rain is still ongoing and flood levels will continue to rise.
"We're in the middle of this—it's going to keep raining,” Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña said. “We're going to continue to see street-level flooding. ... If you don't need to be on the street, stay off the street. If you are on the street, do not drive over flooded roadways. It doesn't take much for your [car’s] ... electrical system to be overcome."
Looking ahead
Although Beryl was downgraded, flooding and strong winds are expected to continue through as the storm continues inland with another 4-6 inches of rain possible in northern counties, according to the NWS. Isolated tornadoes also continue to be a possibility.
