Edouard weakens to depression after Texas landfall, leaving 32,000 without power

Key points

• Edouard made landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph before downgrading to a tropical depression.
• Approximately 32,000 utility customers in Jefferson County, including Beaumont, lost electricity due to downed trees and flooding.
• The National Hurricane Center expects 3 to 7 inches of rain, with up to 12 inches in some spots, continuing through Wednesday.
• A Hurricane Watch was issued from High Island, Texas, to Cameron, Louisiana, with a Storm Surge Warning from High Island to the Vermilion/Cameron Parish line.
• Three other storms, including Hurricane Lowell and Tropical Storm Marie, were active in the Pacific Ocean, with swells expected to impact Hawaii and Mexico.

Background

Earlier forecasts from August 30-31 indicated a tropical low in the northern Gulf could develop into a storm, with potential rainfall of 1-3 inches. The system was expected to track west-northwest at 5 mph, with warnings issued from Port Bolivar to the Vermilion/Cameron Parish line. This follows Tropical Storm Bertha's approach in July 2026, which prompted similar coastal preparations.

How outlets are covering it

KFDM reported on Edouard's movement west-northwest at 5 mph and noted offshore buoy winds of 5-15 mph, suggesting the system was not yet at full tropical storm strength. NBC News emphasized the storm's weakening after landfall and the ongoing rain and power outages, citing 32,000 customers without power in Jefferson County. FOX 26 Houston focused on the Houston area's potential for heavy rain, with 2-5 inches expected near I-45 and isolated 6-9 inch totals east of the highway, and highlighted school closures in districts like Dayton ISD and Crosby ISD.

Why it matters

The storm's impact on Southeast Texas, including power outages, flooding, and school closures, highlights the region's vulnerability to tropical weather. The continued heavy rainfall through Wednesday poses a risk of further flooding, while the active Pacific storms underscore the broader hurricane season's intensity.

What to watch

Forecasters expect Edouard to continue weakening as it moves inland, but heavy rains and possible flooding will persist through Wednesday. The Pacific storms, including Hurricane Lowell and Tropical Storm Marie, are expected to impact Hawaii and Mexico with swells and dangerous marine conditions.