Updated
Updated · NBC News · Sep 2
Edouard Weakens to Depression After 60-Mph Texas Landfall as 32,000 Lose Power
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Sep 2

Edouard Weakens to Depression After 60-Mph Texas Landfall as 32,000 Lose Power

3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Sep 2

Summary

  • Edouard downgraded to a tropical depression Tuesday night after coming ashore near the Texas-Louisiana border with 60 mph winds, but it kept lashing southeast Texas with heavy rain and strong gusts.
  • Forecasters said the system would continue weakening inland while dropping 3 to 7 inches of rain, with isolated totals up to 12 inches and possible flooding into Wednesday.
  • Jefferson County had about 32,000 customers without electricity as the storm passed over Beaumont, where city offices closed, roads flooded, trees fell and traffic signals went dark.
  • Conditions varied along the coast: Crystal Beach saw mostly drizzle despite preemptive business closures, while Cameron, Louisiana, reported gustier winds and intermittent rain.
  • The Atlantic landfall came as Pacific activity stayed busy, with Hurricane Lowell, Tropical Storm Marie and Hurricane Karina all churning offshore and raising surf risks.

Insights

What makes a weakened tropical depression like Edouard capable of paralyzing entire cities with catastrophic floods?
Did the massive post-Katrina infrastructure upgrades actually prevent Edouard's torrential rains from causing widespread disaster?
Could the surprisingly mild weather on the coast create a dangerous false sense of security for future storms?