Tropical Storm Beta 2020

Tropical Storm Beta

September 17-22, 2020

Above: GOES 16 GeoColor Satellite Image of Tropical Storm Beta at 3:01 PM CDT on September 20, 2020.

Tropical Depression #22 formed across the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico the morning of September 17^th, and intensified into Tropical Storm Beta by noon of the 18^th. Beta continued to intensify as it moved northward, reaching its maximum intensity of 65 mph around noon on the 20th. Beta slowed considerably, gradually turning to the northwest towards the Texas coast. Beta weakened slightly as it approached the Texas coast, eventually making landfall as a moderate tropical storm at Matagorda Bay around 9:45 PM on September 21st.

Beta further weakened to a tropical depression after landfall, and eventually a post tropical cyclone as it moved northeast across the remainder of Southeast Texas and Central Louisiana September 22^nd through the 23^rd.

WINDS & PRESSURE:
For our region, minimal sustained tropical storm force winds were recorded during the afternoon and evening hours of September 21^st across the coastal parishes of Southern Louisiana, coastal counties of Southeast Texas and adjacent coastal waters.

STORM SURGE:
Coastal tides between 3.00-3.25 feet Mean Higher High Water (MHHW), or a rough estimate of the level above ground level, were recorded across the Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana coastline, aggravating the recovery efforts after Hurricane Laura. Further east across the Southcentral Louisiana coast, tides ranged from 2.50-3.00 Mean Higher High Water (MHHW).

RAINFALL:
Around 3 to 5 inches of rainfall fell along the track of Beta across Southeast Texas and Central Louisiana. Elsewhere, 1 to 3 inches fell across the remainder of Southern Louisiana.

A brief episode of severe thunderstorms accompanied the passage of post tropical cyclone Beta during the afternoon of September 23rd across Central Louisiana, with a few severe and tornado warnings issued. However, no reports of damage were received.

Above: Houston, TX WSR-88D radar Image of Tropical Storm Beta making landfall across Matagorda Bay, TX at 9:45 PM CDT September 22, 2020.

Above: Hurrevac track of Tropical Storm Beta from operational National Hurricane Center public advisories.

Above: National Hurricane Center best track of Tropical Storm Beta.

Listed below are post-storm reports and meteorological data gathered. All data is considered preliminary, and is subject to change at any time. Additional information will continue to be added to this page in the future.

Radar and Satellite Animated Imagery
(NWS LCH YouTube)

Radar Imagery:	Corpus Christi, TX	Houston, TX	Lake Charles, LA (N/A)
Radar Imagery:		Fort Polk, LA
GOES 16 Satellite Imagery:	4km Infrared	4km Visible	4km GeoColor
GOES 16 Satellite Imagery:	2km Infrared	1km Visible	1km GeoColor

Post Tropical Cyclone Reports
Lake Charles, LA	New Orleans, LA	Houston, TX
Corpus Christi, TX	Brownsville, TX	San Antonio, TX
	National Hurricane Center

NOS Tidal Water Graphs
Eugene Island, LA	Amerada Pass, LA	Berwick, LA	Freshwater Canal Locks, LA (M)
Calcasieu Pass, LA	Bulk Terminal, LA	Lake Charles, LA (M)	Texas Point, Sabine Pass, TX
Sabine Pass North, TX	Port Arthur, TX	Rainbow Bridge, TX

NOS Wind Graphs
Eugene Island, LA	Amerada Pass, LA	Berwick, LA (M)	Freshwater Canal Locks, LA (M)
Calcasieu Pass, LA	Texas Point, Sabine Pass, TX	Sabine Pass North, TX (M)	Port Arthur, TX

NOS Pressure Graphs
Eugene Island, LA	Amerada Pass, LA	Berwick, LA (M)	Freshwater Canal Locks, LA (M)
Calcasieu Pass, LA	Lake Charles, LA (M)	Texas Point, Sabine Pass, TX	Sabine Pass North, TX

M = Missing Data
I = Incomplete Data

Webpage design by: Donovan Landreneau
Content by: NWS Lake Charles staff, other sources as noted above.