Tropical depression Edouard brings floods to Texas; knocks out power for thousands

The former Tropical Storm Edouard deteriorated into a depression on Tuesday while delivering powerful gusts and heavy rains on portions of Texas, causing thousands of people to lose power, falling trees, and flooding highways.According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm reached Johnson Bayou, Louisiana, a tiny coastal town, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph). Forecasters predicted that it will continue to weaken until disappearing this week as it proceeded inland and passed across southeastern Texas.Meanwhile, a number of storms, including Lowell, which earlier in the day attained hurricane intensity, were building in the Pacific Ocean.Edouard was predicted to produce 3 to 7 inches (8 to 17 centimeters) of rain, with a maximum of 12 inches (30 centimeters), according to the hurricane center. Less was expected in southwestern Louisiana.Brad Reinhart, a senior hurricane expert at the National Hurricane Center stated, "that rainfall could produce some flash flooding and river flooding."A storm hits the Texas-Louisiana borderThe Texas Office of Emergency Management advised citizens to avoid the road when the storm's core moved over Beaumont, Texas, which is located approximately 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Houston. The city's offices were closed.Beaumont Police said on social media that there were felled trees obstructing roadways, broken traffic lights, and flooded underpasses all around the city.According to the poweroutage.com report, around 32,000 utility customers in Jefferson county, which includes Beaumont, were without electricity.Mike Gilbert made the decision to close his surf store in Crystal Beach, Texas, ahead of the hurricane because he didn't want to put his staff at danger of having trouble returning home. However, he claimed that when Edouard made landfall around 60 miles (96 kilometers) northeast of his place on Tuesday, all that was left were gloomy sky and light rain.Gilbert said, "You literally never know." "It could have been a completely different story if it had suddenly moved over 50 miles and picked up 20 mph in the wind."Connor Salvador, the owner of an RV park along the ocean in Cameron, Louisiana, reported that by Tuesday morning, the gusts had increased and intermittent rain was falling. He stated that he wasn't too concerned about Edouard, even if there may be a "little bit" of flooding in case they receive a lot of rain.He remarked, "We're pretty used to all these types of storms that come through."Numerous storms in the PacificAccording to forecasters, newly formed storm Lowell in the Pacific ocean is predicted to stay several hundred miles from Hawaii for the next several days at least. However, swells from the storm are expected to affect portions of the islands starting on Wednesday."This hurricane is likely to increase the surf and make for dangerous beach conditions and marine conditions for any boaters near the Hawaiian islands over the next few days", said by National Hurricane Center forecaster Andrew Hagan.Tropical Storm Marie developed in the Pacific Ocean early on Tuesday, well offshore of southwest Mexico as per the center.It was predicted by forecasters to develop into a hurricane by Wednesday night, and over the next several days, swells from the storm were also expected to impact portions of the coast in southwest Mexico and the Baja California peninsula.Driven by warm waters far from any land, Karina developed into a hurricane on Sunday in other parts of the Pacific. Forecasters stated on Tuesday that it was predicted to diminish after it intensified into a strong category 4 storm on Monday.The hurricane center reported that portions of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas saw rain and thunderstorms due to the remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.