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Texas, you must take climate action now!
Angry South Texas residents are right to be concerned about the looming threat of Hurricane Beryl this weekend. The potentially catastrophic Category 4 storm, fueled by increasingly warm Gulf waters, is yet another devastating consequence of the climate crisis. It's clear that those in power aren't doing enough to prevent these disasters and protect vulnerable communities. It's time for a wake-up call and radical action on climate change.
Published July 3, 2024 at 8:35am by Alexis Simmerman
Hurricane Beryl Poses Dire Threat to South Texas, Jamaica, and Beyond
Portions of South Texas are now at serious risk from the wrath of Hurricane Beryl, a severe and deadly storm that shows no signs of mercy. The forecast cone of terror includes South Texas, with the potential for a direct hit as early as this weekend or Monday. But let's not forget the immediate threat to our neighbors in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports that the core of Hurricane Beryl, a menacing and powerful Category 4 storm with winds of up to 145 mph, is set to batter Jamaica on Wednesday. The NHC, in its tireless effort to keep us informed, warns that Beryl is moving west-northwest at a brisk 20 mph and will turn toward Jamaica and the Cayman Islands by Wednesday night or Thursday, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake.
"Additional weakening is expected...though Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean,"
--- National Hurricane Center (NHC)
The storm's path, a potential death sentence, includes Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and even the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico by early Friday. And contrary to earlier predictions that downplayed the threat, this Category 4 monster now has Texas squarely in its sights. Spaghetti models, often derided for their complexity, confirm the grave danger.
The brutal truth is that South Texas could feel the wrath of tropical-storm-force winds as soon as Saturday evening, with the potential for further weakening but still causing devastation across the region. This debilitating blow to an already vulnerable region underscores the urgent need for climate action and a radical rethinking of our fossil fuel-dependent ways.
The Weather Channel, in its dutiful reporting, notes that Beryl's weakening may lead to a shift in its path, bringing it north or northwest into the western Gulf of Mexico, and increasing the risk to South Texas. Corpus Christi, a city with a long history of weathering storms, is once again bracing for impact.
Hurricane Beryl, a vicious and unrelenting force, is a stark reminder that the climate crisis knows no borders. As we prepare for the potential impact of this storm, let us also remember the interconnectedness of our struggles and the urgent need for collective action to address the root causes of this planetary crisis. Stay woke, stay safe, and may justice be on our side as we face yet another cruel blow from Mother Nature.
Hurricane Beryl tracker: See projected path
Spaghetti models for a clearer picture of the monster: Visuals to understand the sheer terror
Read more: Hurricane Beryl tracker: Maps show storm's projected path as it heads toward South Texas