As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, Hurricane Beryl has made its way to Jamaica as it continues moving west into the Gulf of Mexico.
If it will directly hit the Coastal Bend is a question of uncertainty until later in the week.
On Wednesday, the National Weather Service office in Corpus Christi said “it is looking more likely that Beryl will make landfall across far northeast Mexico or the South Texas Coast” as a Category 1 hurricane early next week.
The city of Corpus Christi and its Office of Emergency Management are actively monitoring Beryl and will continue to track the system throughout the coming days.
Since developing late last week, Beryl has become the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record and is the first June major hurricane east of the Lesser Antilles on record. It is also the earliest Category 5 storm to hit the Atlantic on record.
The Corpus Christi Public Works Department will have three sandbag distribution events for residents. People will be able to pick up seven free sandbags at the City Service Center at 5352 Ayers St.
There will be 14,000 sandbags given out over the three events. The first is at 1 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, the second from 8 a.m. to noon Thursday and the final distribution will be from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday.
Drivers are asked to have a clear area in the trunk or bed of their vehicle and to have either open. Drivers are asked to remain in their car as staff will load the sandbags.
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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at [email protected] or Twitter @johnpoliva.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: National Weather Service: Beryl could hit Texas coast next week
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