Latest Update: 1:45 p.m. , Sept. 22
Tropical Storm Beta is set to make landfall along the Texas coast, late Sept. 21. The storm is expected to bring three to seven inches of rain to Southeast Texas through Thursday, according to KBMT Channel 12.
• As of 10 a.m. Sept. 22, Beta has been downgraded to Tropical Depression Beta after making landfall near Port Lavaca Texas last night. The storm has 35 mph winds and is travelling northwest at 2 mph according to KBMT Channel 12. All warnings have been discontinued. The storm is set to remain in Southeast Texas as late as Wednesday.
•As of 7 p.m. Sept 21, Beta is travelling at 5 mph with sustained winds of 45 mph winds and is set to make landfall late Sept. 21 near Port O' Connor. A storm surge warning is still in effect from Port Aransas to Sabine Pass.
• At 4 p.m. Sept. 21, the university issued the following statement via email and campus alerts: "Lamar University officials are continuing to monitor forecasts for Tropical Storm Beta. The expected impacts to campus are minimal at this time. Should the situation change, additional messages will be sent through LU’s social media sites, your LU email, LiveSafe and this page."
• As of 1 p.m. Sept. 21, Beta is approaching the central Texas coast at a speed of 7 mph with sustained winds of 45 m.p.h. according to the National Hurricane Center. A storm surge warning is also in effect from Port Aransas to Sabine Pass.
• Port Arthur mayor Thurman Bartie has issued a voluntary evacuation for Pleasure Island and Sabine Pass, as these are the lowest lying areas. The Texas Department of Public safety also issued a notice on their Twitter account to use caution on State Highway 87 between Port Arthur and Sabine Pass due to high water.
The university is monitoring the situation and sent out the following statement via email and campus alerts: “Lamar University officials are actively monitoring forecasts for Tropical Storm Beta off the coast of Texas. The storm track, intensity and impacts are uncertain at this time. Please continue to monitor LU’s social media sites, your LU email, LiveSafe and lamar.edu/alerts for official updates as the storm progresses.”
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.