- Tropical Storm Edouard gained strength in the Gulf before making landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border.
- In Beaumont, city offices were shuttered and the Texas Office of Emergency Management warned residents to stay off the road.
- More than 47,000 utility customers were without electricity in Jefferson County, which includes Beaumont.
- Local residents and business owners expressed mixed reactions to the storm, with some closing early and others noting it was less severe than expected.
Tropical Storm Edouard made landfall Tuesday afternoon at Johnson Bayou, Louisiana, after intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm brought maximum sustained winds of 60 m.p.h. and is expected to dump three to seven inches of rain, with some areas receiving up to 12 inches.1
"That rainfall could produce some flash flooding and river flooding," warned Brad Reinhart, a senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center. As Edouard moved inland, it was anticipated to weaken rapidly.
In Beaumont, Texas, approximately 47,000 utility customers were left without electricity, prompting the Texas Office of Emergency Management to advise residents to stay off the roads. Local businesses, like Mike Gilbert's surf shop on Crystal Beach, closed in anticipation of the storm, although he reported only gray skies and drizzly rain at his location.3
The storm's impact was felt across the region, with Cameron, Louisiana, experiencing increased winds and intermittent rain as Edouard approached.
“More than 47,000 utility customers in Jefferson County lost power, according to poweroutage.com. Local reactions varied: a Crystal Beach surf shop owner closed early to protect employees, while another resident in Cameron, La., noted the storm brought only gray skies and drizzly rain.”
