Hurricane Beryl intensified into a Category 1 storm on Sunday night, posing a significant threat to the Texas coast with anticipated life-threatening conditions, including storm surges and powerful winds, according to U.S. forecasters.

The National Hurricane Center reported that Beryl's maximum sustained winds reached 75 mph late Sunday, leading to its upgrade from a tropical storm. This assessment was bolstered by data from National Weather Service radar and reports from Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft.

As of the 11 p.m. local time update, Beryl was positioned approximately 65 miles south-southeast of Matagorda, Texas, moving north-northwest at 10 mph.

Previously a Category 4 hurricane that caused severe damage in Caribbean islands like Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Beryl weakened to a Category 2 storm upon making landfall on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula last Friday. Its further downgrade to a tropical storm occurred while crossing the peninsula.

The hurricane center's projections indicated that Beryl could make landfall along the Texas coast, spanning from Baffin Bay northward to San Luis Pass, an area currently under a hurricane warning.

The National Weather Service's Dickinson office suggested that the eastern side of Matagorda Bay was a probable landfall zone, positioned between Corpus Christi and Galveston. Timing for landfall remained uncertain, broadly anticipated as "overnight" into "early Monday."

By Sunday evening, Beryl's outer bands had begun impacting the Texas shoreline, with rain bands observed along the immediate coast east of Port Aransas, as reported by the Corpus Christi weather office.

The storm's anticipated effects encompass life-threatening storm surges up to 7 feet and potentially damaging hurricane-force winds, extending from Padre Island National Seashore to Sabine Pass. Additionally, significant rainfall up to 15 inches was forecasted for parts of the middle and upper Texas coast through Monday night, heightening the risk of flash flooding.

Authorities issued warnings about perilous rip currents along the Gulf Coast, urging beachgoers to heed warning flags and lifeguards' advice.

The combination of storm surge and tide could result in flooding in usually dry coastal areas, with projections of 4 to 7 feet for Matagorda Bay and the stretch from Port O'Connor to San Luis Pass, and 4 to 6 feet for Galveston Bay. The hurricane center cautioned that large and destructive waves accompanying the surge could exacerbate coastal flooding, depending on the tidal cycle.

In preparation, the Texas Department of Public Safety mobilized troopers to fill sandbags for residents, and social media circulated images of boarded-up homes in South Texas. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick declared disaster declarations for 121 counties in anticipation of potential damage.

Responding to the storm's expected impact, the Houston Independent School District announced closures for all campuses on Monday and Tuesday.

Forecast models indicated that Beryl would shift northeastward on Monday, moving across eastern Texas and Arkansas later in the week, as outlined by updates from the hurricane center.

With Texans urged to complete safety preparations, including safeguarding themselves and their properties, Beryl's approach underscored the imperative for vigilance and readiness across potentially affected regions.