National Weather Service image of Tropical Storm Beta’s storm surge warning and coastal flood warnings in the Coastal Bend. Courtesy image
Rains generated by Tropical Storm Beta, set to make landfall near Matagorda Bay late Monday, Sept. 21, began in Port Aransas early Monday morning. The center of the slow-moving storm was 121 miles from Port Aransas at 4 a.m. Tropical storm warnings are in effect north of Port Aransas; a tropical storm watch, due south.
In anticipation of flooding caused by rains and storm surge, beaches have been closed from Port Aransas to Padre Island National Seashore.
The national park closed its beaches at 1 p.m. Sunday as water was already reaching the dune line, according to Charles Lassiter, public information officer at the seashore.
“Driving access to both North and South beaches will be restored as soon as conditions allow,” he said in an email to the media.
Beach Access Roads 2, 3, 3A and Newport, Zahn, and Whitecap in Corpus Christi will remain closed until 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, unless the water has not receded, announced the city of Corpus Christi.
The county closed Beach Access roads 4, 5, and 6 until further notice.
Inundation at North Beach has forced the closure of Timon Boulevard at Burleson Street and the east causeway turnaround to the west causeway turnaround due to storm surge.
Currently, beach conditions are dangerous with strong riptide warnings, said the National Weather Service. Pedestrians are discouraged from visiting the beach.
Laguna Shores Road from Glenoak Drive to Caribbean Drive have been closed due to extreme tidal influence.
A State of Local Disaster was declared for a seven-day stretch beginning Sept. 19 by Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales. The declaration activates the county’s emergency management plan.
In Port Aransas, high tides have inundated the beach. All access roads have been barricaded.
Tropical storms have sustained winds of 50 mph, which decrease at landfall.
The Coastal Bend is expected to get about 1-3 inches of rain. Victoria might get as much as 4-6 inches. Ten inches is possible in certain locations.
