UPDATE: Hurricane Beryl Causing Severe Damage and Travel Delays

We’re well into hurricane season now, and that can mean some major changes for your summer plans.

For the past few days, we’ve been watching Hurricane Beryl to see what its trajectory is and how it will affect the U.S., and now that the storm has made landfall, we’ve got updates.

According to the New York Times, Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Matagorda, Texas just before 4AM on Monday, July 8th. At the time, it was a Category 1 storm. Strong winds and torrential rains are battering Houston and causing damage to public spaces and private residences.

@National Hurricane Center || Hurricane Beryl

This damage in the U.S. is after the storm tore through the Caribbean, killing at least 11 people and flattening communities. At that time, the storm was a Category 5 hurricane.

Officials are warning that the winds in Houston are stronger than were expected, and they’re encouraging people to take shelter indoors like you would for a tornado. At this point, at least two people outside of Houston have been killed by falling trees.

Earlier today, USA Today reported that around 1400 flights have been canceled as a result of Hurricane Beryl. As of noon, 80% of flights at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport were canceled. These cancelations are heavily impacting both United Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

Many airlines are offering flight waivers for travelers whose plans have been affected by the storm, and it’s important to keep in mind that your flight is eligible for a refund if it’s canceled for any reason, according to the Department of Transportation.

Also being affected by the hurricane are some cruises. The port of Galveston, Texas remained closed on Monday after suspending operations over the weekend. Some Royal Caribbean cruises have been affected by this change.

So if you’re traveling this week, make sure to keep an eye on the weather and any travel plans like flights or cruises. Keep in mind that delays and cancelations on one side of the country could affect travel plans on the east. coast as well, especially if the pilots for your flight are coming from Texas.

We’ll continue to monitor the hurricane situation. Our thoughts are with those who’ve been affected in Texas and in the Caribbean.