STORM WARNING
Texas and Louisiana brace for ANOTHER hurricane as Tropical Storm Beta strengthens in Gulf of Mexico with 60mph winds
TEXAS and Louisiana were bracing for devastating floods today as Tropical Storm Beta gathered strength over the Gulf of Mexico.
It is the latest major storm to hit the coast after a record-breaking 2020 season that has seen so many hurricanes forecasters have run out of names.
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At least three named stormed are now swirling in the Atlantic basin, including Beta which is set to be the ninth cyclone to make landfall in the mainland US this year.
Forecasters warned Beta could dump ten to 20 inches of rain in the coming days - and could also bring deadly 4ft tidal surges.
The storm has already caused local flooding along the coast of Texas early on Sunday.
Warnings have been issued along a stretch of coast from from Port Aransas, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana.
EVACUATE WARNING
Officials said a storm surge could overwhelm the shore in Copano Bay, Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay, Matagorda Bay, and Galveston Bay.
Vulnerable residents have been warned to evacuate in case roads are cut off by floods.
Galveston and Seabrook authorities issued voluntary evacuation orders as residents prepared for the "life-threatening" conditions tomorrow.
Craig Brown, acting mayor of Galveston, said high tides and up to ten inches of rain would leave roads impassable, especially along the city's west end and low-lying areas.
County Judge Mark Henry said: "If you can survive in your home for three or four days without power and electricity, you're OK.
"If its uncomfortable or you need life support equipment, maybe go somewhere else."
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There are fears the storm could drench the Lake Charles area in Louisiana, where many are still without power three weeks after Hurricane Laura battered the same coast three weeks ago.
Up to 20 inches of rain is possible in some parts or even more if the storm moves very slowly, said Donald Jones of theNational Weather Service.
"A lot of people have been saying, Is this going to be like Harvey? Is this going to be like Imelda?" Jones said.
"Were not talking about rainfall totals yet that are on the orders of magnitude that we saw with that"
Hurricane Imelda, which struck southeast Texas in 2019, was one of the wettest cyclones on record. Harvey dumped more than 50 inches of rain on Houston in 2017, causing deadly floods.
Early on Sunday, Tropical Storm Beta was tracked 205 miles southeast of Galveston, with maximum sustained winds at 60mph, and was moving west-northwest at 3mph.
Earlier predictions said Beta could reach hurricane strength before making landfall on Monday.
It will be the ninth named storm to make landfall in the continental US this year, equalling the record set in 1916.Weathermen have started using letters of the Greek alphabet after using up a list of 21 names for the season. It is only the second time that has happened since the 1950s.
Category 4 Hurricane Laura in Texas and Louisiana in late August.
Last week after Hurricane Sally hit Alabama.
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