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Increasing heat in Texas raises safety concerns during extended power outages after Hurricane Beryl
July 11, 2024
> AccuWeather RealFeel® temperatures will surge above 100 degrees this weekend in Texas communities left without power
> Families, contractors, volunteers, and utility crews face an increased risk of
heat-related illnesses
> Little relief is expected in the overnight hours with AccuWeather RealFeel®
temperatures hovering above 80 degrees
AccuWeather Global Weather Center – July 11, 2024
With temperatures forecast to climb over the weekend in areas hit hard by Hurricane Beryl, AccuWeather expert meteorologists say there is a growing public health and safety threat for people still without power and air conditioning in southeast Texas.
“The extended power outages in this Texas heat and humidity are becoming increasingly dangerous for people without access to air conditioning, fans, or cool shaded areas,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter. “Every day these power outages continue, the risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke increases as the accumulated heat stress on a person builds day over day, especially for young children, older people, and others with medical conditions that make them vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.”
Utility officials say thousands of people may not have power restored by next Monday. This would mark one full week without electricity and air conditioning since Beryl made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph.
“This intense heat can be difficult for utility crews working long hours in the sun, especially for the teams that have come in from different regions that may not be used working in the Texas heat and humidity,” said Porter. “It’s important for those utility crews to stay hydrated and to take breaks in the shade to lessen the risk of heat-related illnesses."
Officials in the Houston area said there has been an increase in 911 calls for heat-related illnesses after Hurricane Beryl blew through the region. Officials also confirmed an uptick in carbon monoxide poisoning calls due to improper generator use and people turning on vehicles inside garages to charge devices or to use their car’s air conditioning.
“The damage and long-lasting impacts from Beryl highlight just how vulnerable the electric infrastructure is in many coastal areas of the United States. This was the first Category 1 hurricane landfall of the season. Utility companies, government leaders, and emergency officials across the country need to take a close look at what’s happening in Houston right now and review their own emergency response plans.” warned Porter. “Hurricane Beryl is yet another tragic example of how the heat, extended power outages, and safety hazards after the storm can become just as impactful and dangerous as the conditions when a hurricane makes landfall.”
Prepare for future hurricane threats this summer
AccuWeather expert meteorologists say there are no substantial, imminent tropical threats on the horizon right now, but families and businesses should restock any emergency supplies that were used during Beryl.
Porter says everyone needs to be prepared for the likelihood of a flurry of tropical threats later this summer. The peak of hurricane season typically arrives in mid-August and lasts through September.
“It’s crucial for families to keep summer heat and humidity in mind when they prepare their hurricane emergency kits. A few extra cases of bottled water, a small solar power kit, a fan, and a portable canopy can go a long way if you find yourself in a situation where you lose power for days or even weeks after a storm,” said Porter.
AccuWeather was the first known source to issue a forecast in March warning of an “explosive” hurricane season. AccuWeather expert meteorologists predict 20-25 named storms in the Atlantic Basin and 4-6 direct impacts to the United States this year.
AccuWeather expert meteorologists were also the first known source to accurately forecast the threat of a hurricane impacting the Windward Islands. AccuWeather’s Forecast EyePath® was issued more than 24 hours before the first forecast track was issued by the National Hurricane Center, providing families and businesses in the Caribbean with valuable advance notice.
Increased threat of rapidly intensifying hurricanes
With sea surface temperatures near or at record-high levels in many parts of the Atlantic and Caribbean, and water temperatures quickly rebounding in the wake of Beryl in the Gulf of Mexico, AccuWeather expert meteorologists are increasingly concerned about the threat of rapidly intensifying tropical storms and hurricanes.
“There is no doubt that our warming atmosphere and extremely warm ocean waters, also tied to climate change, are elevating the risk of devastating hurricane impacts this year,” said Porter. “We have been worried about the threat of tropical storms and hurricanes rapidly intensifying in the final hours before landfall ever since we issued our 2024 AccuWeather Hurricane Season Forecast in March. Water temperatures at the surface, and hundreds of feet deep, are incredibly warm. That energy acts as extra fuel for storms, allowing them to explode in intensity, raising the risk of destructive winds and more storm surge inundation when they make landfall.”
Porter says families, businesses, and emergency officials far from the coast also need to be ready for impacts from tropical storms and hurricanes.
“People hundreds of miles inland need to be prepared for impacts this hurricane season. Beryl is responsible for more than 40 preliminary tornado reports across six states. Several tornadoes spun up more than a thousand miles away from where Beryl made landfall in Texas,” said Porter. “These storms can produce dangerous tornadoes and cause flash flooding far from the coast.”
Porter says every tropical threat should be taken seriously; never assume that an approaching tropical storm or hurricane will be similar to one that you experienced before.
“It can be dangerous to compare hurricane threats to past storms. Every single tropical storm and hurricane is unique and brings its own set of risks and impacts,” said Porter.
AccuWeather Forecast Graphics
Additional AccuWeather Resources:
Tornado machine: Beryl may end up the most prolific tornado-producing hurricane
AccuWeather’s Preliminary Estimate of the Total Damage and Economic Loss from Hurricane Beryl in the United States is $28-32 Billion
Whataburger app helps Texans during Beryl power outages
Rapidly Intensifying Hurricanes Near Coastline Pose Major Threat To U.S. This Season
AccuWeather Forecasts Explosive 2024 Hurricane Season
How to use a generator safely after a hurricane strikes
What are the warning signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke?
