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Maria Island Cruises

Maria Island is home to World-renowned geology, pristine beaches, protected marine habitats, mountain views and UNESCO World Heritage convict history. Maria Island is also a sanctuary for native wildlife and is a dream destination for international visitors to experience dolphins, whales, fur seals, sea eagles, albatross, gannets, wombats, kangaroos, wallabies, cape barren geese and possibly a Tasmanian devil all in one day.

Maria Island Cruises is located in the township of Triabunna (1 hour, 10 minutes from Hobart) and specialise in cruise and walk day tours to Maria Island National Park. Our team operates a customised tour boat called the Spirit Of Maria that is designed to explore some of Australia’s largest sea caves. The boat has two decks providing shelter, comfort and unobstructed viewing of Maria’s enthralling marine life, unique cliff formations and giant sea caves.

Our award-winning eight-hour day tour is the #1-day tour in Hobart on Tripadvisor and combines a four-hour scenic cruise of Maria Island’s stunning coastline with a two-hour walk of the island’s UNESCO convict settlement.

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Maria Island Cruises

Tours and cruises | east coast.

I get a lot of questions from travellers asking about my #1 ‘thing to do’ or ‘place to see’ in Tasmania.

Cradle Mountain? Nope.

Freycinet? Try again.

Gordon River? Not even close.

It might come as a bit of a surprise, but Maria Island is my absolute favourite place in all of Tasmania!

And the best way to experience this natural wonder?

A cruise+walking tour with Maria Island Cruises !

There aren’t many places left in the world that are anything like Maria Island.

Less than 10km off Tasmania’s sunny east coast, this island is a paradise for anyone in search of nature, relaxation, and some absolutely fascinating aboriginal and colonial history.

Oh… and how could I forget the wombats!! 

Sheltered little beaches are dotted along its sheltered coastline, and the network of walking trails will take you to some beautiful locations with a minimum of effort.

For many travellers, this land-based adventure is enough. But to to take your Maria Island experience to the next level you have got to take a look at a cruise with Maria Island Cruises !

Maria Island Cruises - 10% OFF

Use my LAPOFTAS code when booking your exciting day on the water with Maria Island Crui ses and you will receive 10% OFF your ticket price!

Maria Island Cruises has two sensational tours to choose from, with each providing a cruise in the morning, followed by an afternoon dedicated to exploring Maria Island by foot.

• Enjoy a full loop around Maria Island by boat
• See waterfalls, secluded bays, golden beaches and atmospheric sea caves
• Anchor off the sandy ‘neck’ for a lunch with one of the best views in Tasmania
• Spend the afternoon seeing the Painted Cliffs, local wildlife, Probation Station, and other natural attractions by yourself on foot, or enjoy a guided tour of Darlington and soak up its rich history
• Cruise beyond the northern tip of Maria Island to the legendary ‘Ile des Phoques’ or ‘Island of the Seals’
• Sea an abundance of sea life on its rugged coastline – Australian fur seals, dolphins, and even whales at the right time of year!
• Cruise inside one of the biggest granite sea caves in Tasmania 
• Lunch will be at anchor in the sheltered waters of Booming Bay
• Either stretch your legs at your own pace in the afternoon, or take a tour of the old convict ruins

Both their cruises depart from the wharf at Triabunna.

If you are travelling from Hobart I recommend allowing 1.5 hours by car.

Don’t have a car? Not a problem!

Maria Island Cruises also have a shuttle bus option that you can book at the same time that you book your tickets.

The shuttle bus departs Hobart in the morning at around 7am, getting you to Triabunna right on time.

Your return trip is also included, dropping you off in Hobart just after 6pm.

This was the highlight of our Tassie trip. The close-up scenery as we circumnavigated Maria Island was breathtaking. The knowledgeable and entertaining commentary showed the passion that Mike has for his environment. Nothing was too much trouble for the team!

– Mike (TripAdvisor)

Mike and the team have been helping visitors to Tasmania to experience Maria Island and its gorgeous surrounds since 2006, and it won’t take long for you to see just how passionate they are to share this pristine corner of Tasmania with you.

They always put their guests first, and have been consistently rated as Hobart’s #1 tour on TripAdvisor for 5 straight years!

Seriously, this is one of the most memorable, life-changing tours you will experience anywhere in the world and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Click on the link below to check their prices, learn more about each of the tours, and to see exactly why this is my absolute favourite place in Tasmania!

10% OFF – Discount Code : LAPOFTAS

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community as the traditional owners  and continuing custodians  of  this island lutruwita (Tasmania).

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Maria Island Tours

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Maria Island Scenic Cruise Including Lunch & Guided Walk

See the best of the UNESCO-listed Maria Island and its surrounding scenic isles on an all-inclusive tour complete with a sightseeing cruise, a tour of the Darlington Convict Settlement, and more. This tour also includes a gourmet buffet lunch onboard, as well as live commentary to make the most of your sightseeing experience. Transfers from Hobart available or meet at Triabunna.

• Transfers from Hobart Available
• 4 Hour Maria Island scenic cruise 
• 2-hour stay on Maria Island
• Buffet Lunch Included
• Visit Darlington Convict Settlement
• Opportunity to see wildlife like fur seals and albatross
• Small and personalised tour groups (maximum 24 people)

Hobart Shuttle Transfer If you reqire a hotel transfer from Hobart please select the Hobart Transfer option when booking.  Guests located outside of the Hobart CBD can choose to meet at the Hobart Travel & Information Centre at 20 Davey St, Hobart. 

• Departs Hobart between 6:40am & 7:00am
• Returns to Hobart between 5pm & 5.30pm

Meet at Triabunna The Maria Island Scenic cruise departs Triabunna daily at 9:00am. Check in at the Triabunna Visitor Centre 30 minutes prior to departure. Our cafe opens at 7:30am and you are welcome to come along early and have a coffee and something to eat for breakfast.  

• Departs Triabunna at 9:00am
• Returns Triabunna at 4:30pm

Your day at a glance:

• After a pickup at Hobart we drive to Triabunna to meet the Cruise
• Meet at the Triabunna marina 8:45am and board the "Spirit of Maria"
• Depart at 9:00am from Triabunna for a short journey to Darlington for snacks and refreshments
• From here, we will take a 4 hour cruise to circumnavigate around the entire Maria Island coast!
• In the afternoon return to visit the famous Fossil Cliffs and Painted Cliffs before docking at Darlington.
• Join a guided walk of the Darlington convict settlement, exploring history and the island's friendly wildlife.
• Returns to Triabunna at 4:30pm

The Cruise Our Circumnavigation cruise around Maria Island is like theatre on the water, a totally immersive and educational experience!  The east coast of Maria Island showcases world class geology, mountain fed waterfalls, secluded bays, sea caves and beaches of pure white sand.  Enjoy expert commentary from our professional scientific crew as you cruise to the renowned Riedle Bay and Shoal Bay at Maria Island's isthmus for a lunch stop on anchor. En route around Maria Island we stop to showcase many famous landmarks including the Fossil Cliffs and Painted Cliffs.

Lunch Lunch is provided on the tour from our cafe as a large healthy salad bowl.  A variety of salad lunch options include; chicken breast in pesto aioli, smoked salmon, roast beef, leg ham or vegetarian/vegan.  If you have selected a salad bowl lunch, we now have a new option to offer you!  You can add a home made bacon & cheese quiche or pumpkin and feta quiche to you lunch and switch to a half salad.  Please let us know before you tour if you would like a half salad option with a quiche.

Darlington In the afternoon, both tours will dock at Darlington. The perfect way to compliment your cruise is to stretch your legs and enjoy a guided tour through Darlington’s fascinating collection of preserved convict buildings, learn about the town’s remarkable history and come face to face with Maria Island’s resident wombats.  If history is not for you, then simply soak up the sun on Darlington’s white sandy beach or swim/snorkel in the waters of Maria Island’s marine reserve.

Airport Drop-off available on request If you would like to be dropped off at the airport please let us know in the booking notes. Guest can bring luggage on the day. Pleae provide details when booking.

Travelling with children Tours are perfect for children and families! Children of all ages are welcome aboard our boats and we take many children along on our cruises. 

Special Family Pricing We offer special rates for families. We have provided concessions for children between 3yo - 15yo and families (2A + 2Ch). Infants under 2yo travel for free.

Instant Booking & Mobile Friendly Tickets

• Check availability & book here to secure you spot on Maria Island Scenic Cruise, Buffet Lunch & Guided Walk Tour. Pre-booking is essential. Please do not turn up on the day without a booking. Please note that tours will not be available between June and October 1st 2023, so be sure to plan your visit accordingly.

About East Coast Cruises East Coast Cruises is located in the township of Triabunna (1 hour, 15 minutes from Hobart) and they specialise in cruise and walk day tours to Maria Island National Park. The team operates a custom-built boat that is designed to explore some of Australia's largest sea caves. The boat has two decks that provide shelter, comfort and unobstructed viewing of Maria's enthralling marine life, unique cliff formations and giant sea caves. Unique experiences exploring hidden gems with unfiltered views and no crowds!

Michelle Jenkins

One of the best tours we have done!

Kerry Robertson

It was a fabulous day on a small boat with opportunities to be up on the open deck or inside. The staff were very professional, knowledgeable and obviously had tertiary qualifications in this area .customer service was a high priority. Morning tea and lunch together with drinks was more than adequate and the two hour walk around Darlington was fantastic.

Thanks to Michael and Rachael for making our Maria Island experience memorable. Michael was extremely knowledgeable regarding the history and the ins and out of the island and coast. Would definitely recommend to others.

Heather Koenig

We had an excellent day with Michael on our cruise. The weather on the day meant the course was changed a bit but Michael was helpful , informative and so interesting. Both he and the two girls Millie and Rachel were excellent and helped our day be the memorable one that it was.

Guy Hildreth

Really great tour, enjoyed it!

Richard Gilbert

Both Michael and Zoe were great and refreshing to see people with enthusiasim and pride in what they do. Was a long day in a boat, 2 hours less would be better.

Hobart Shuttle Transfer If you reqire a hotel transfer from Hobart please select the Hobart Transfer option when booking. Guests located outside of the Hobart CBD can choose to meet at the Hobart Travel & Information Centre at 20 Davey St, Hobart. Departs Hobart between 6:40am & 7:00am Returns to Hobart between 5pm & 5.30pm Meet at Triabunna The Maria Island Scenic cruise departs Triabunna daily at 9:00am. Check in at the Triabunna Visitor Centre 30 minutes prior to departure. Departs Triabunna at 9:00am Returns Triabunna at 4:30pm

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I Went on My First MSC Cruise, Here is My Honest Review

W hen I booked my first MSC cruise, I’ll admit that I had serious doubts. I had read so many negative reviews about MSC cruises, criticizing the subpar service, basic food options, overcrowding, and chaotic embarkation process. However, my experience on the MSC Meraviglia, departing from New York to the Bahamas, was surprisingly positive. In this review, I’ll share all the details of my first MSC cruise. Having been on over 25 cruises, I’ll be comparing my MSC experience with that of many mainstream cruise lines.  

Since I didn’t book a stateroom in their exclusive Yacht Club, this review focuses on the regular non-Yacht Club cruise experience on MSC. It’s important to note that this is an unsponsored review, and all opinions in this article are based on my personal experience.

I was a bit hesitant about going on an MSC cruise because I thought I’d be stuck with basic food like pizza and pasta. I had come across reviews praising the Italian fare but hadn’t heard much else. 

Frankly, I didn’t want to go on a cruise just to eat pizza and pasta. To my surprise, the food exceeded my expectations. Despite being a budget cruise, they served sophisticated dishes such as shrimp cocktail, escargot, osso bucco, steak tartare, braised short ribs, steak, and lamb shank. They even had a gala night with lobster and steak and baked Alaska for dessert! The best part was that the food tasted amazing. 

Kudos to the chef on MSC Meraviglia. The food was some of the best cruise food I’ve had. Every dish was delicious and well-seasoned.

I have to mention that they served the best Caesar salad I’ve ever had on a cruise. In fact, my son, who typically avoids vegetables, is now a huge fan of Caesar salad thanks to our experience on this cruise. I’m forever grateful to MSC Meraviglia for transforming my son into a vegetable eater!

I also want to give credit to the pastry chef for the amazing cakes on board. The carrot cake is incredible, and I had the Grandma’s Chocolate cake almost every night!

The only thing that reminded me of a budget cruise line was the rule allowing only one entrée per person. If you wanted an additional entrée, there was a $5 charge, and certain premium entrees like the NY Strip steak also had a $5 surcharge. However, in my opinion, the $5 charge was negligible considering the quality of the food, so it was definitely worth ordering that second entrée!

The Wait Staff

I was honestly worried that my experience would be disappointing due to poor service. One of the main reasons I go on cruises is to be pampered by the cruise staff. 

I heard that MSC might have a bad staff-to-passenger ratio, resulting in subpar service. However, my experience was fantastic and comparable to major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruise, and Holland America. 

Our waiter, Panarta, was attentive and friendly. The assistant waiter did a great job with our drinks, and the head waiter took good care of my son and niece, who have food allergies.

The Cabin Steward

I was also worried that the quality of service I would get from my cabin steward would be subpar. I thought my cabin steward, Komang, might be overworked and not be able to clean my room properly. 

However, I was pleasantly surprised. Komang did an outstanding job, even better than my experiences on more high-end cruise lines. The bathroom was clean when I arrived, with no lingering odors, which is a widespread issue on many other cruise ships. I usually have to ask for a re-clean on the first day due to bad odor, but not on this MSC cruise! 

Also, Komang was very attentive and promptly fulfilled all my requests. I always had fresh towels and even received evening turndown service. I wasn’t expecting it since other cruise lines, like Norwegian Cruise, have eliminated turndown.

I want to point out that my own experience with the cabin steward isn’t a one-off experience. My mom and sister’s cabin steward, Agus, was also exceptional. He put in a lot of effort to ensure their staterooms were promptly cleaned, with fresh towels, and the best part was that their cabins didn’t have any lingering bad odors. Agus was also always friendly and went the extra mile.

Guest Services

I was pleasantly surprised by the guest services desk. Unlike the long lines I’ve encountered on other cruise ships, the guest services line on my recent MSC cruise was always short. It seemed like there were only 1 or 2 people in line whenever I walked by. 

I’d like to think the short line is due to the happy passengers who don’t have many complaints! But I honestly think it’s because of the efficient guest services staff. The MSC Meraviglia is one of the most efficient cruise ships I’ve been on. They have assigned a dedicated guest services staff to assist passengers while they wait in line, which speeds up the process. 

For example, when I needed to link my credit card to my cabin, a staff member pulled me out of the line and guided me through the kiosk, reducing my wait time. When my nephew lost his key card, a staff member quickly reprinted it, minimizing our wait time again. Their efficiency and organization was truly impressive. 

On one occasion, I had to speak to a guest service staff member at the desk, she was pleasant and helped me solve my issue. 

Free Onboard Texting

One thing that I liked about the MSC cruise is the free onboard texting. You can text other passengers via the MSC cruise app chat feature even if you’re not subscribed to their WiFi plan. 

This made it so convenient to stay in touch with family members and locate them on the cruise ship. It was especially helpful for keeping track of my teenage daughter’s whereabouts!

I was really impressed by the buffet experience. On the first day of the cruise, the only option for lunch was the buffet, and I was worried it would be chaotic and overcrowded. 

To my surprise, the buffet was manageable, and we easily found a table for 8 people. We got on the cruise ship at around 12:30 pm, so it was peak lunchtime!

Even on sea days, the buffet was comfortable. There were always plenty of tables available and the lines were not too long. 

I think it’s because they have a lot of buffet staff whose main job is to clear the tables. In fact, their staff was almost too efficient – if you got up for seconds, you might come back to find your table cleared! 

Public Space

I’ve been on cruises where the public areas of the ship get overcrowded, causing bottlenecks. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the layout of the MSC Meraviglia. The ship is designed in a way that the public spaces are well-distributed, so you never feel like you’re in a bottleneck or caught in a big crowd. The only time it feels busy is when you exit the theater after a show, but that’s normal for any cruise ship.

Pool Lounge Chair

One of the things that I always find on cruise ships is that it is hard to get pool lounge chairs. But not at MSC. I’ve had no trouble finding an empty lounge chair by the pool, even by the indoor pool. I think it’s because they have a policy of clearing lounge chairs if they’re left unattended. I really appreciate how organized the cruise staff is on this ship.

Embarkation

I was pretty worried about the embarkation process. My mom had watched a YouTube video of the embarkation of MSC Meraviglia at the Brooklyn Cruise terminal, and she described it as a complete nightmare with endless lines. 

I was mentally preparing myself for the same experience! However, I was pleasantly surprised. When we arrived at the Brooklyn Cruise terminal, there was a line, but it wasn’t too long, and it kept moving. The staff was well-organized, and getting through security and the check-in process was easy. 

Once we boarded the cruise ship, they informed us that our room wouldn’t be ready until 1 pm. However, we could leave our carry-on bags in the cabin and pick up our cruise keycards, which were hanging on our cabin door. The embarkation process turned out to be smooth and effortless.

The Theater

I liked the theater on the MSC Meraviglia. Unlike other cruise ships, the theater wasn’t too big, so there were no bad seats, even if you sat at the back. They also had a reservation system, and the staff scanned your cruise card to let you in. Even if we were late, finding seats for 8 people wasn’t a problem because they had 3 shows every night, unlike other cruise lines with only 2 shows per night.

The shows were quite enjoyable. While they weren’t exactly Broadway shows, there was a good variety of performances, including singing and dancing to popular songs from different eras, some mild acrobatics, magic shows, and stand-up comedy.

One of my favorite experiences during my Bahamas cruise is the MSC private island, Ocean Cay. It’s probably one of the best cruise line private islands. 

Ocean Cay is stunning- soft, white sand and turquoise water. What’s great is that the cruise ship docks right at the island, so there’s no need for tender boats. 

Families with kids will love the calm, shallow, clean, seaweed-free lagoon—perfect for a relaxing day at the beach. Finding lounge chairs was easy. Overall, we had an amazing beach day, which is a big reason why I will go back on a Bahamas cruise on MSC.

So far, I have been giving you all the reasons why my MSC cruise was such a positive experience. Now, let’s discuss the negatives. To be fair, there aren’t many, but they are significant enough to turn some people off.

The main dining room was the biggest letdown for me. The tables were set up too close together, leaving little room to move around. They also crammed extra chairs at the tables, making it feel overcrowded. 

We were squished into a table meant for six people despite being eight people. Thankfully, we had four kids on our table, which made it less cramped, but I can imagine that it would have been extremely uncomfortable for eight adults. 

Also, because of the table set-up, the main dining room ambiance is that of a noisy restaurant rather than a refined dining experience. It doesn’t feel fancy like what I’m typically accustomed to on other cruise lines. 

Another downside is the size of the staterooms and bathrooms, which are smaller compared to other cruise lines. The cabins felt narrow, and there was hardly any closet space. Even with just myself and my two kids, we couldn’t fit all our clothes in the closet. My son had to keep his clothes in his luggage! 

One more thing that didn’t sit well with me was the electronic daily planner and menu. They don’t leave a printed daily planner in your cabin. As a result, I missed many onboard activities on the first day at sea because I didn’t realize I had to scan a QR code to access the daily planner. 

At the restaurant, there was a lack of printed menus, since they expected passengers to scan a QR code to view the menu. As a result, we were forced to share menus at my table, which was inconvenient and took away from the dining experience. 

Finally, the service in the main dining room always felt rushed towards the end. We barely had time to enjoy our coffee with dessert! I later learned that the restaurant I was assigned to had three seatings, causing the rush. Other restaurants on the cruise ship had two seatings.

Will I Cruise on MSC Again?

The answer is a definite yes. In fact, we’ve even booked another Bahamas cruise through their future cruise program on the MSC Meraviglia for the same week in June but in 2025!

We decided to sail on MSC again mainly because it’s a great value – you get good food, great service, and an amazing private island at an affordable price. I’m willing to overlook the small cabins and crowded main dining room for these benefits! (If they were to raise the price, then I don’t think I would sail on MSC.)

If you have been on the fence like me about sailing on an MSC cruise, don’t be. Don’t let the fact that it’s a budget cruise line scare you off. To be honest, I believe labeling MSC as a budget cruise line is a misconception. Apart from the small cabin size and crowded main dining room, the food and service are comparable to other cruise lines like Princess Cruise and Royal Caribbean, but at a more reasonable price! Check out: 12 Disembarkation Day Mistakes People Make When They Get Off the Cruise Ship

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The post I Went on My First MSC Cruise, Here is My Honest Review appeared first on Suburbs 101 .

Some Caribbean islands see almost 'total destruction' after Hurricane Beryl

A more complete picture emerged Wednesday of the extensive damage wrought by Hurricane Beryl's trek across the Windward Islands, revealing destruction and at least seven deaths.

At least three islands report more than 90% of the homes and buildings either destroyed or severely damaged, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency reported Wednesday . All three are within the chain of Grenadine Islands, where Beryl roared into the Caribbean on the southern end of the Windwards, between St. Vincent and Grenada.

With 19 participating states across the Caribbean , the agency was helping coordinate disaster response on Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines even as it continued to track Beryl’s movements across Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Belize. The eye of Beryl, still a Category 4 storm, raked Jamaica's coast Wednesday afternoon and was expected to pass near the Cayman Islands Thursday morning, before making landfall in the Yucatan on Friday morning.

The damage estimates for the Windwards – where Beryl made landfall over Carriacou – are only "a very preliminary look," said Elizabeth Riley, the disaster management agency's executive director. Beryl struck the islands with sustained winds of 150 mph and higher gusts on Monday, and the National Hurricane Center had warned that winds could be up to 30% higher on the tops of hills and mountains.

The impacts to the Grenadine Islands are "quite significant," Riley said, leaving residents exposed and vulnerable. Even as recovery efforts began, a tropical wave brought rain and gusty winds Wednesday to the suffering residents.

Grenada prime minister discusses damage on Carriacou

In a briefing late Tuesday after spending more than two hours in a helicopter provided by the government of St. Lucia, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell described "total destruction" on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

"There's really nothing that can prepare you to see this level of destruction," Mitchell said. "It is almost Armageddon-like, almost total damage and destruction of all buildings. Complete devastation and destruction of agriculture. Complete and total destruction of the natural environment."

"There is literally no vegetation left anywhere on the island of Carriacou; the mangroves are totally destroyed, the boats and the marinas significantly damaged," he said. "There is almost complete destruction of the electrical grid system in Carriacou. The entire communication system is completely destroyed."

However, Mitchell added, he'd been heartened by the volunteers "showing true Grenadian spirit" by arriving from other less damaged areas in boats and fishing vessels to begin delivering relief supplies to those affected.

Hurricane Beryl's fearsome seas As Beryl tears through Caribbean, a drone sends back stunning footage

Beryl damage updates

The following are the preliminary assessments Riley listed:

Carriacou, Grenada

• The total population of 6,081 has been affected, so shelter is "a significant consideration."
• Majority of homes and buildings have been extensively damaged
• Communications have been significantly compromised

Petite Martinique, Grenada

• Estimated 80% of the houses and buildings extensively damaged or destroyed
• 900 people affected
• Majority of the island is sheltering in place

Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

• 100% of the island's population (12,600) has been affected
• An estimated 90% of the houses were damaged, either extensively or destroyed
• Police station in Charlestown lost its roof

Union Island, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

• Full population of 3,000 was affected by extensive damage
• Estimated 98% of buildings, including houses badly damaged or destroyed
• Airport control tower destroyed, hospital roof destroyed
• Power plant received significant damage
• Government assisting people who wish to evacuate

Mayreau, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

• Total population of 300 people affected
• 90% of the housing stock and buildings have been damaged or destroyed

Palm Island, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

• Resort and desalination plant significantly damaged
• More than 40 homes with damage, a number expected to rise
• Confirmed significant damage to the fishing sector
• More than 200 boats damaged
• Significant damage to the coastal infrastructure, particularly along the south coast 
• Partial road obstruction
• Significant damage on southern end 

Trinidad and Tobago

• Power outages
• Water disruption on Tobago 
• Roadway blockages on both islands

Bequia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

• An estimated 10% of the homes and buildings suffered roof damage
• Airport and runway are usable
• Minimal damages reported

Mitchell, Grenada's prime minister, said the island's northernmost parish, Saint Patrick suffered significant damage. The parishes of Saint Andrew, Saint Mark and Saint John also suffered much more damage than the parishes of Saint George and Saint David.

"It is clear that agriculture has taken quite a battering. It is clear that many persons have lost their roofs," Mitchell said. "It is clear, in some instances, many people have lost their entire homes."

Dinah Voyles Pulver covers climate and the environment for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] or @dinahvp.

ONE DAY ON MARIA

Tour & booking information, our guarantee to you.

Each of our tours to Maria Island is especially designed to provide an exciting, informative and unforgettable day.  Our professional staff are 100% committed to your enjoyment, comfort and safety and we pride ourselves on delivering the very best experience for each and every tour.   We will guarantee that if we do not meet or exceed your expectation, we will refund your money no questions asked.

One tour ... but two cruises?  What's the difference?

After touring to Maria Island for 10 years, we have developed a unique cruise and walk day tour with two distinct cruise options.  The difference between each of the options is the destination of the cruise.  The circumnavigation cruise will take you on a journey around the entire coastline of Maria Island and you can't possibly see any more of Maria Island in a single day than this tour!  The Ile Des Phoques (island of seals) cruise will head north to a remote granite island where we visit the most playful Australian fur seals and explore the inside of the biggest granite seas caves in Tasmania, possibly Australia.  These caves are world class natural wonders and leave everyone totally speechless when inside them on the boat.  Upon returning from the Ile Des Phoques, we visit the famous Fossil Cliffs and Painted Cliffs before docking at Darlington.

Each cruise will return to Maria Island for a relaxed afternoon guided walk of the Darlington convict settlement, exploring history and the island's friendly wildlife.

Which cruise is scheduled?

As we only have one boat, we are only able to operate one tour on each day.  We have scheduled the tours to alternate between the two cruises over the calendar days of summer.  An initial schedule has been set to operate the Circumnavigation tour on Fridays and Saturdays.  The Ile Des Phoques tour is set to operate on Sundays and Mondays.  Additional days will be opened up if the demand for midweek tours is there.  Please note that if poor weather prevents us from cruising to the Ile Des Phoques, the cruise will be changed to circumnavigate the coastline of Maria Island.

Minimum Numbers

Due to the high operational costs of our tours, we do require a minimum of 6 adult passengers for each tour.  We are always hopeful that we will reach this requirement on every tour, however if we have not yet met the requirement within 48hrs days of the tour date, we will contact you to discuss the flexibility and options of moving to a different day.

Payments are now taken upfront with confirmation of your booking.   Maria Island Cruises accepts credit cards (Visa or Mastercard), PayPal or Direct Deposit (EFT) payments with each booking.  We do not accept cash on the day.  Credit card details are stored in a secure online booking system and are removed after the completion of your tour.  Adjustments to bookings paid via credit cards can be made at anytime without any extra charges.  Adjustments to bookings paid via PayPal or EFT payments will be made on the day of your tour.  Refunds do not incur any fees or charges. .

Cancelling your tour

If you would like to cancel your booking, you are welcome to do so. Please let us know before the day of the tour. We are very reasonable in providing refunds to customers, we simply ask that you notify us within 24hrs. We do not accept cancellations on the day but will provide a voucher for 50% of the cost of your booking for you to redeem at a later date. Credit cards will be charged if you do not show up without notifying our office. Please note (important) we do not cancel tours because of rain. We only cancel tours if strong wind and swell prevent us from safely and comfortably cruising around Maria Island. If you wake up to rain on the day of your tour, please note that unless conditions on the water are rough, we will still be cruising and will not accept cancellations on the day because of rainy or overcast conditions. Rain is a good thing here as we typically have low annual rainfall! The mountains, cliffs and waterfalls of Maria Island all look amazing with mist and cloud around them and we are equally excited to tour on wet and rainy days. Lastly, please feel free to call our office on 0362571300 (8am-6pm) if you would like to discuss the weather or your booking.

If you have cancelled and are required a refund, we are happy to do so without additional charges. Refunds can be given back to you credit cards, be made by EFT or via Paypal. Refunds will be given to customers who cancel outside of 24hrs from the departure date. If cancellations are made inside 24hrs (the day before) our staff will have already begun to cater for your tour. In this case, we will offer a 50% refund on the total booking cost with a voucher for the remaining amount to be taken at a later date. No refunds will be given for cancellations made by customers on the day of travel. Instead a voucher will be issued to be redeemed at a later date. Cancellations made by our business will allow for full refunds at any time with no extra charges.

December 25th and 26th

Unfortunately our tours will not operate on December 25th or December 26th this season.

Our tours are PERFECT for children!  In fact, our tours are so much fun they bring out the child in all of us!  The friendly wildlife at Maria Island capture the imagination of children and adults alike.  Although each tour is packed full of adventure, they are different and we often recommend visiting Ile Des Phoques (French for the "Island Of Seals") for young children if you have the choice.  We have provided concessions for children between 3yo - 12yo and families (2A + 2Ch).  Infants under 3yo travel for free.

Lunch is provided on the tour from our cafe as a large healthy salad bowl. A variety of salad lunch options include; chicken breast coasted in pesto aioli, smoked salmon, roast beef, leg ham or vegetarian/vegan. If a salad bowl is not for your liking, please let us know and you may choose anything else from our cafe to the value of $10pp (cash refunds not given if under $10). You may use this credit to purchase salad rolls or select from our range of freshly made sandwiches for children if you wish. You are also welcome to bring your own lunch on the day. Lunch is enjoyed on the boat whilst at anchor in an idyllic remote location at Maria Island.

Alcoholic drinks

Our tours are licensed to provide alcoholic drinks with lunch.  A complimentary serve of wine or beer is provided with your lunch.   Our selection of Darlington Vineyard wines ($6 per additional serve) include: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir. Our selection of Tasmanian beer include Boags Premium Larger or Boags Premium Light ($6 per bottle). Soft drinks, juice, water, tea and coffee are provided free of charge on the boat. Additional drinks can also be purchased on the boat during lunch and added to your order (applicable to orders booked direct to us by credit card. Please bring a payment method with you if you have paid for your tour by PayPal, direct deposit or via a tourism agent).

On board Toilet

Our custom built vessel Spirit Of Maria has a very comfortable, full-sized toilet.  It also has the BEST view imaginable!  The toilet is electronic flushing (no pumps or vales) and offers easy access and doubles as a private change room.

As you would expect, sometimes the weather does effect our plan for cruising at short notice.  If the weather does not allow for a cruise to Ile Des Phoques, the cruise will be changed to circumnavigate Maria Island.  If we cannot circumnavigate the island, we will construct the next best cruise itinerary to ensure you remain safe and comfortable.  We have a very good idea of the weather 7 days before the cruise date.  If there are any concerns about changing the plan of the tour, or cancelling we will let you know.  If you have your own concerns about the weather, PLEASE give us a call.  Our staff are trained to read the local weather conditions at Maria Island with our cruise in mind.  We only operate the tours in gentle weather.  Please also note, we do not cancel tours because of rain.  We only cancel tours if strong wind and swell prevent us from safely and comfortably cruising around Maria Island.  If you wake up to rain on the day of your tour, please note that unless conditions on the water are rough, we will still be cruising and will not accept cancellations on the day because of rainy or overcast conditions.  Rain is a good thing here as we typically have the least rainfall in Tasmania!  The mountains, cliffs and waterfalls of Maria Island all look amazing with mist and cloud around them and we are equally excited to tour on wet and rainy days!

Travel Sickness

If you are concerned about sea sickness, there is a pharmacy in Triabunna where you can purchase motion sickness medication. Please inform our boat staff if you are susceptible to motion sickness and they will allow you onto the boat first and allocate you the last row of seats (at the rear of the boat).  This is where we advise people to sit if they are prone to motion sickness.  Please do not choose to sit at the bow (front) of the boat. We also have ginger tablets and wrist bands (they work!) so please also ask for these before we depart. It is not common to feel motion sick on our boat, but always best to take precautions.

General Booking Terms

Maria Island Cruises reserves the right to cancel departures at anytime and will refund the full amount of any monies paid by the customer. Bookings must be confirmed by East Coast Cruises before the commencement of the cruise. Cancellations by the customer must be made 24 hours prior to the cruise departure to avoid cancellation fees. Cancellations by the customer within 24 hours of the tour departure will attract a cancellation fee of fifty percent of the total tour cost. Customers who cancel on the day of their cruise or tour booking or who fail to attend will be charged the full amount and not be entitled to a refund . A voucher will be issued instead for 50% of the tour value.  Prices may be subject to change at anytime.

© Copyright East Coast Cruises

Wind and Rain Begin to Pelt Texas Coast Ahead of ‘Deadly Storm’

Beryl is predicted to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane early Monday. But forecasters warned that it could rapidly intensify, and officials said not enough people were evacuating.

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Follow live coverage of Hurricane Beryl.

Edgar Sandoval ,  Miranda Rodriguez and Maria Jimenez Moya

Reporting from the Texas coast

More than a million Texans are under a hurricane warning. Here is the latest.

Wind and rain from the outer bands of Tropical Storm Beryl lashed parts of the Texas coast on Sunday evening, as the storm’s wind speeds remained just below hurricane status. Officials warned that not enough people were leaving in the face of a threat that tore a deadly path across the Caribbean, killing 11.

Forecasters cautioned that Beryl could intensify before making landfall somewhere between Galveston and Corpus Christi early Monday. The storm will carry enough rain to cause significant flooding in the Houston area and further inland.

Here are the key things to know:

The forecast: Beryl had maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour as of 7 p.m. Central time, up from 60 m.p.h. earlier in the day. (Storms are considered hurricanes when their winds reach 74 m.p.h.) It was expected to bring damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge and up to 15 inches of rain, according to the National Hurricane Center. “It will be a deadly storm for people who are directly in that path,” said Dan Patrick, the state’s lieutenant governor. Track the storm .

Texas makes preparations: Officials issued a disaster declaration for 121 counties and readied the National Guard, search-and-rescue teams and other emergency responders ahead of the storm. More than a million people across Texas were under a hurricane warning. Mr. Patrick, who is in charge while Gov. Greg Abbott visits Asia for a trade mission, said traffic data showed that roads were relatively clear , and worried that beach vacationers weren’t aware of the danger approaching.

The storm’s impact so far: Before reaching the Gulf of Mexico, Beryl plowed through the Caribbean , flattening islands, inundating communities and becoming the first hurricane to reach Category 5 status this early in the season. It made landfall twice last week — once in Carriacou, a small island north of Grenada, and then in Mexico. In the wake of the storm, Caribbean leaders have already called for more action on climate change from Western countries.

Climate change’s role : Researchers have found that climate change has increased the frequency of major hurricanes, because warmer ocean temperatures provide more energy that fuels these storms. It is also making hurricanes intensify faster and produce more rain with a higher storm surge. Beryl’s quick escalation to a major hurricane is a bad sign for the rest of the season , forecasters say.

John Keefe , Emily Schmall , Kate Selig and Isabelle Taft contributed reporting.

About 300 flights in and out of Houston were canceled on Sunday, according to the flight tracking site FlightAware.

Isabelle Taft

Beryl could knock out power in Texas. How has the grid fared before?

As Beryl’s winds and rain begin to lash coastal Texas on Sunday evening, one thing was almost as certain as the arrival of the storm itself: Some Texans are expected to lose electricity as it barrels through their state.

“There will be power outages,” said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, at a news conference about storm preparations on Sunday afternoon.

Storms frequently cause outages because strong winds can bring branches and trees crashing down on power lines, and also damage other parts of the system.

Beryl was forecast to bring winds of up to 110 miles per hour to parts of southeast Texas by early Monday.

Texans are unusually familiar with power outages: The state had more weather-related power outages from 2000 to 2021 than any other, according to the advocacy organization Climate Central.

The most infamous power outage in the state’s recent history was caused not by tropical storm activity in the summer but by a deep freeze in 2021, when bitterly cold weather caused the electricity grid to fail, with millions losing power for days. The power outage contributed to more than 240 deaths.

But hurricanes have also caused widespread and lengthy outages in the state.

In 2008, Hurricane Ike left two million customers across eastern Texas without power for three days after the storm. Line crews from 31 states converged on the state to repair what was then the biggest power failure in state history. The storm caused not only the typical line outages from fallen trees, but also damage to substations and the towers holding high-voltage transmission lines. Floodwaters even drove snakes and other wild animals into a power substation near the Louisiana border.

Most people, at least in the Houston area, had their power back on within 10 days.

Hurricane Harvey, in 2017, was a different story. Even though it was the second-most expensive hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland since 1900, the Public Utility Commission of Texas said no more than 350,000 customers were without power at any time.

Some buildings in downtown Houston that had retained power during Ike lost it during Harvey , because the underground power system that had been protected from Ike’s intense winds flooded during Harvey’s relentless rains.

Hurricane Rita, in 2005, also caused widespread power outages lasting as long as seven days in some Texas counties.

Texas officials, electricity companies and individuals were all thinking about the grid as Beryl churned through the Gulf of Mexico. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the Public Utility Commission had designated personnel to coordinate with utility providers across the area in Beryl’s path.

Thomas Muñoz, Houston’s emergency management coordinator, said city officials were monitoring nursing and assisted living homes and preparing to provide services like oxygen and medical help if they lose power for an extended period.

CenterPoint Energy, which serves about 2.8 million customers in the Houston area, had brought in thousands of additional workers to respond to outages, Mr. Muñoz said.

Ahead of Beryl’s arrival, AEP Texas, which delivers electricity to one million customers in South and West Texas, got reinforcements from its counterpart in Ohio. More than 120 Ohio line workers drove to Texas to help with power restoration efforts, the company said on Facebook.

Some Texans aim to avoid outages altogether by installing generators. Robert DeShazo, president of Generator Supercenter’s branches in Victoria, Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley, said his businesses got more calls than usual this week as people prepared for Beryl.

“When it goes out here, it goes out for a while,” he said, noting that power providers typically restore electricity in populous areas first, so smaller towns are more affected by long outages. “And it’s hot.”

An earlier version of this article misstated the year that Hurricane Harvey struck Texas. It was 2017, not 2018.

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Here’s what to expect as Beryl is set to hit Texas.

Beryl is forecast to make landfall in Texas as a Category 1 hurricane early Monday, and heavy winds and rain had already arrived in parts of the state by Sunday afternoon.

The storm is expected to hit near Matagorda Bay, about 100 miles southwest of Houston, and bring strong rip currents, flooding, heavy rainfall and winds of up to 110 miles per hour to the coast, according to the National Weather Service.

Officials and meteorologists warn that because Beryl will continue to intensify as it churns through the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the storm could strengthen to a Category 2 by the time it reaches the Texas shore.

Storm surge will move water inland, potentially covering areas from the northern part of the Padre Island National Seashore to Sabine Pass on the border with Louisiana. The National Weather Service predicts storm surge of up to seven feet around Matagorda, Texas, up to six feet around Galveston Bay, and three to five feet to the northeast and southwest of those areas.

Heavy rainfall of five to 15 inches is forecast across the Texas Gulf Coast and in eastern Texas through Monday night. In Houston, residents can expect six to eight inches of rain, while coastal communities including Galveston are expected to see eight to 12.

Because Beryl is moving at a relatively quick speed of about 10 miles per hour and is expected to maintain that speed, according to state officials, the storm will linger less over already-soaked communities. It is moving much faster than Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which slowed to about five miles per hour after making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane and stalled in South and Southeast Texas for days, causing devastating flooding .

After making landfall, Beryl is expected to turn northeast and move into eastern Texas and Arkansas late Monday and Tuesday. Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, emphasized that flooding will be a risk far inland, in places like Tyler and Texarkana.

The storm could also bring tornadoes along the central and upper Texas coast on Sunday night, and across eastern Texas and Louisiana on Tuesday.

With these conditions, Mr. Kidd said residents should be ready for power outages in the coming days.

Edgar Sandoval

Almost in an instant, the skies in Corpus Christi went from bright blue to gray. People found themselves running for cover from heavy rain.

After a brief but heavy storm, calm skies have returned to Corpus Christi for now.

Maria Jimenez Moya

Two lifeguard trucks are patrolling along the seawall in Galveston to ensure people are no longer swimming as heavy rainfall and rowdy waves begin to hit.“This storm is really early in the season, and the trajectory has jumped around,” said Chief Peter Davis of the Galveston Island Beach Patrol. “This makes us a little bit nervous, since it’s unpredictable.”

The streets of Corpus Christi remained relatively quiet on Sunday afternoon, a sign that most people were heeding the warning to stay home. One notable exception: The city's memorial statue to the late pop singer Selena continued to draw people to the waterfront.

At Port Aransas, some residents rushed to take the last ferry out of the island town.

On Sunday afternoon, William Parker took one more look at the island town of Port Aransas as he hopped on the last ferry before services closed in anticipation of Beryl. Mr. Parker said he decided to heed the mandatory evacuation order.

“It felt good to get out on time,” said Mr. Parker, a 63-year-old maintenance worker. “If you see the satellite images, it’s not far. It’s just there, right off the coast,” he said, referring to the storm that was approaching Texas.

Port Aransas, a small but popular island destination in Texas with about 3,600 residents, tends to be overwhelmed by storm surges, and Mr. Parker said he was most fearful of the sea rising, pointing at the gulf waters, which were getting rougher by the minute. A handful of motorists had the same idea as Mr. Parker, and they raced to make the last ferry before it was shut down.

After getting off the boat, Mr. Parker stopped to help his girlfriend, Linda Norman, 63, pack her belongings from a trailer where she lives, steps away from the port.

“We made it just on time. You can’t mess around with hurricanes. If the water comes up to the bridge, all of this is gone,” he said looking over the bridge that takes drivers to Aransas Pass, the next town over.

Ms. Norman was thankful for Mr. Parker’s help. She held on to her blind dog, a small Brussels Griffon also named Linda, who seemed oblivious of the impending danger. “I would not leave her behind,” Ms. Norman said, hugging her tighter. “She’s my world.”

Mr. Parker packed decorations and valuable items onto a Ford Explorer. He and Ms. Norman had lost most of their belongings during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, they said. “We had to start all over again,” Ms. Norman said. “This time we’re going to try and save as much as we can.”

Asked where they were headed, Mr. Parker tilted his head away from the sea. “There, inland,” he said.

Miranda Rodriguez

The water is starting to get choppy in Aransas Bay, which separates Corpus Christi from barrier islands along the Texas coast. Restaurants along the bay front are open for now, but many will be closing at 6 p.m.

Edgar Sandoval ,  Maria Jimenez Moya and Jack Healy

Edgar Sandoval reported from Corpus Christi, Texas; Maria Jimenez Moya reported from Galveston, Texas; and Jack Healy reported from Phoenix.

State officials urge coastal Texans to evacuate, but some are unfazed by the storm.

As Beryl chugged toward the Texas Gulf Coast on Sunday, oil workers fled drilling platforms, tourist towns battered by previous storms shut down their ferries, and state officials urged people to evacuate at-risk low-lying coastal areas.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick warned on Sunday that Beryl would be a “deadly storm” that would bring significant rain, winds and flooding. He issued disaster declarations for 121 counties in recent days.

“It’s a serious storm, and you must take it seriously,” he said in a news briefing on Sunday. “You don’t want to be in six to 12 inches of rain. You don’t want to be in flooding.”

Mr. Patrick expressed concern that people were not paying enough attention to updates on Beryl — which is currently a tropical storm but is expected to intensify into a Category 1 hurricane — with thousands vacationing on the coast during the holiday weekend. Traffic data on Sunday afternoon showed the roads were not clogged with people evacuating. “The maps are still green,” Mr. Patrick said. “We don’t see many people leaving.”

Indeed, many locals were unfazed by the storm and decided to stay, gambling that they could survive its wind and rains.

“Those that have left have already gone,” said Alysa Jarvis, vice president of a community group in Seadrift, a coastal city of 1,000 people. “I’m staying, though.”

Ms. Jarvis said that she and other residents were paying close attention to the storm’s expected path as it curled northward, but that she wanted to stay at her waterfront home so she could run its sump pump to keep it from flooding.

The Sunday brunch rush was in full force at Bubba’s Seafood, a Cajun-style seafood restaurant in Seadrift. But it planned to close early on Sunday as staff members kept a wary eye on the bands of rain beginning to spray the coast. Tamra Flores, a manager at the restaurant, said she and her family had moved their boats into storage and put away their patio furniture. But she did not plan to evacuate.

“We’re a very small community, so a lot of our patrons are hometown people who aren’t going to go anywhere,” she said.

In Aransas Pass, a small hamlet near Corpus Christi, a volunteer evacuation notice was issued on Saturday, meaning residents were strongly urged but not required to leave. Paulette Alvizo, 32, watched a line of cars driving inland on Saturday but decided not to join them. She filled up two tanks of gasoline at a boarded-up gas station on Sunday morning, and said she was confident that she had enough water and food to ride the storm out with her husband and four children.

“This is not our first storm,” she said. “We are going to stick it out.”

The scenes at big-box stores along the coast reflected both preparation and nonchalance. At a Walmart in Galveston, supplies of bottled water were running low, as people prepared for possible power outages and boil-water notices. But at a Home Depot in Corpus Christi, many shoppers bypassed the sandbags and water bottles and instead went for garden supplies and outdoor furniture.

On Galveston Island, Cesar Laiva, 53, a construction worker, assembled his usual hurricane-preparation supplies: plywood, sandbags and screws. Mr. Laiva, who has lived on the island for 30 years, called the situation “not that bad.”

Others secured their patio furniture, took down umbrellas, gassed up their generators, covered their windows with sheets of plywood — and waited to see how bad the storm would be.

Miranda Rodriguez contributed reporting from Corpus Christi, Texas.

Gas stations like this one in Aransas Pass, a small town just outside Corpus Christi, are already boarded up and getting ready to close as soon as the first rain drops begin to fall.

Beryl’s trail of destruction so far.

Before Beryl threatened the Texas coast on Sunday, the storm caused destruction across several other countries as it made its way through the Caribbean and toward the Gulf of Mexico.

After forming in the Atlantic Ocean in late June, Beryl ripped through the Caribbean as a Category 4 hurricane before making its way toward Texas. While it has since weakened to a tropical storm, it is expected to regain strength and make landfall in Texas as a Category 1 hurricane on Monday.

The storm has left a trail of destruction starting on July 1. Here’s where Beryl has wreaked havoc so far.

Carriacou and Petite Martinique, Grenada: Beryl slammed into the islands as a Category 4 hurricane on July 1, destroying roughly 98 percent of the buildings, which are home to around 10,000 people, according to officials. Three people were killed.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Hundreds of homes, schools and churches were severely damaged after Beryl passed as a Category 4 hurricane on July 1. One person was reported dead.

Venezuela: While Beryl didn’t strike the country when it arrived as a Category 4 hurricane just north of it on July 1, three died from the flooding it brought to the state of Sucre.

Jamaica: Beryl passed along Jamaica’s southern coast as a Category 4 hurricane on July 3, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and flooding. It left two people dead and hundreds of thousands of households without power.

Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico: Coming in as a Category 2 hurricane on July 5, Beryl brought heavy rain to popular vacation areas in Cancún and Tulum before weakening to a tropical storm. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Nim Kidd, head of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, warned residents of danger beyond the coast. “There will be inland flooding,” he said at a news briefing. “And what we find is this freshwater inland flooding tends to be more of a killer of our citizens than the actual storm surge.”

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick of Texas said officials are concerned that thousands of people vacationing on the Gulf Coast may not be watching the news or checking email the way they normally would. Traffic data shows that the roads are not clogged with people evacuating the path of the storm. “The maps are still green,” he said. “We don’t see many people leaving.”

Dan Patrick, the lieutenant governor of Texas, said Beryl “will be a deadly storm for people who are directly in that path.” The state’s disaster declaration spans 121 counties because flooding could also affect inland areas like Texarkana and Tyler, he said at a news briefing.

Beryl, still a tropical storm, could strengthen to a Category 2 hurricane before making landfall in Texas, National Hurricane Center forecasters warned in their latest forecast . “Rapid intensification is a distinct possibility,” they said, and would depend on the atmospheric conditions near the storm. For now, Beryl is forecast to grow only to a Category 1.

Drought-stricken parts of Texas could use some relief, but Beryl is unlikely to bring it.

Texans in areas plagued by drought conditions may be hoping Beryl will bring some relief. But they are likely to be disappointed: The storm is set to dump rain mostly on regions that do not really need it.

About a quarter of the state is currently in drought , according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, affecting areas mostly in West and Central Texas along the Rio Grande, as well as those just west of Austin and San Antonio. About 3.5 million Texans live in areas currently in moderate, severe or extreme levels of drought, the drought monitor shows.

But with Beryl forecast to head north and then east after making landfall along the central part of the Texas coast, that means rainfall is likely for only areas that are not in need of it, the drought monitor shows.

“Whenever we kind of miss out with one of these systems, where it doesn’t go into the area we wish it would go into, it just prolongs the agony of drought in the areas that really need water right now,” said Paul Yura, a meteorologist at the Austin-San Antonio office of the National Weather Service.

Texas generally relies on “tropical activity” for summertime rainfall, Mr. Yura said. And storms this year have already helped improve the drought outlook.

Last month, Tropical Storm Alberto brought rain to South Texas after making landfall in Mexico. Rains from that storm helped bring down the percentage of the state in drought from 30 percent to 25 percent. And before Alberto, an unusually wet first five months of the year helped the state’s drought outlook.

Last year was the hottest in Texas since at least 1895, and by last September, 86 percent of the state was in drought, according to the Texas Water Development Board. The state’s driest year on record was 2011, when almost all of its land — 99.96 percent — was experiencing drought in late September.

The picture today is highly regionalized, Mr. Yura said, with drought concentrated in West and South Central Texas. And nowhere in the state is facing as extreme conditions as those in 2011, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

At the Bridgepoint Home Depot in Corpus Christi, pallets of bottled water and sandbags are still available. Several shoppers said they aren’t too concerned about the upcoming storm. Many are buying garden supplies and backyard furniture instead of storm supplies.

Low-lying Galveston Island on the Texas coast is subject to a voluntary evacuation order, and judging by the traffic, many residents are heeding it. There's a line of cars extending for several blocks waiting to cross the only bridge to the mainland.

Emiliano Rodríguez Mega

Reporting from Mexico City

As Beryl largely spares northern Mexico, some take precautions while others enjoy the beach.

Residents in Mexico’s northern state of Tamaulipas, across the Texas border, sighed in relief this weekend as they learned that Beryl would only bring moderate to heavy rains in a few locations. The storm was originally expected to make landfall in Mexico twice.

Still, authorities were taking no chances.

“Although the trajectory now may indicate that it is more focused on the Texas side, we ask not to be careless and not to let our guard down,” Héctor Joel Villegas González, the state’s government secretary, said in a news conference on Saturday. “Natural phenomena have no word of honor.”

Earlier in the week, officials in Tamaulipas set up temporary shelters, monitored dams, identified areas vulnerable to landslides and took steps to prevent potential flooding and road blockades — such as clearing the drainage and pruning trees.

Some people were heeding the authorities’ advice. René Aguirre Garza, who coordinates a residential neighborhood in Matamoros that has previously been affected by flooding, said some of his neighbors were placing sand bags around their houses and cleaning their streets.

Others were more carefree. Despite officials warning residents not to visit popular beaches facing the Gulf of Mexico, some beachgoers enjoyed the sun and the waves.

On Saturday, tourists, vendors and fishers strolled along Bagdad Beach in the municipality of Matamoros, unconcerned by the incoming storm. A few officials were urging people to go home, but residents replied that nothing would happen as Beryl was already moving north.

“We’ll see what happens,” said Francisco Gabriel Ponce Lara, a rescue coordinator with the Matamoros Red Cross. “As far as I know, we are only going to get about eight inches of rainfall.”

Just like it was no secret that Beryl would bring some much-needed rain to Texas, authorities in Tamaulipas also hoped the storm and the hurricane season would help end — at least temporarily — a historic and brutal drought in the state.

In May, before Tropical Storm Alberto drenched the northeastern coast of Mexico, about 97.7 percent of Tamaulipas was suffering from some degree of drought , according to the country’s meteorological service. In its latest report on Friday, the agency said that number had dropped to 16.3 percent.

“Water for our state has been a blessing because the dams have been empty,” Mr. Villegas González told reporters on Saturday, adding that a system of lagoons that provides water to thousands of locals “has recovered.”

According to the National Hurricane Center, a tropical storm warning was in effect on Sunday morning for the northeastern coast of Mexico.

Edyra Espriella contributed reporting from Matamoros, Mexico.

The last hurricane to batter to Corpus Christi with damaging winds was Hanna in 2020. It destroyed many of the boats at Harbor Del Sol Marina, where people had taken refuge during the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, a lone boat at the harbor seemed to be getting ready to brave Beryl.

Judson Jones

Reporter and meteorologist

Why Beryl is a bad sign for this year’s hurricane season.

Over the course of a few short days, Beryl rapidly intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane last week, setting records for the earliest point in a season that a storm has grown so big.

This quick escalation was a direct result of the above-average sea surface temperatures as well as a harbinger of what is to come this hurricane season.

“This early-season storm activity is breaking records that were set in 1933 and 2005, two of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record,” said Philip Klotzbach, an expert in seasonal hurricane forecasts at Colorado State University.

Last fall, a study in the journal Scientific Reports found that Atlantic hurricanes from 2001 to 2020 were twice as likely to grow from a weaker storm into a hurricane of Category 3 or higher within 24 hours than they were from 1971 to 1990. The study added to a growing body of evidence that rapidly developing major hurricanes were becoming more likely.

Andra Garner, an assistant professor of environmental science at Rowan University in New Jersey and the author of the paper, called the findings an “urgent warning.”

A hurricane that intensifies faster can be more dangerous, as it allows less time for people in areas projected to be affected to prepare and evacuate. Late last October, Hurricane Otis moved up by multiple categories in just one day before slamming into Acapulco, Mexico, as a Category 5 hurricane that killed at least 52 people .

In Beryl’s case, it became a tropical storm late June 28, meaning it had sustained wind speeds of more than 39 miles per hour. The next afternoon, it became the season’s first hurricane, a Category 1, with wind speeds of 75 m.p.h. The morning after that, it became the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record, with wind speeds of more than 130 m.p.h.

And on July 1, after it had devastated Carriacou , a small island north of Grenada, Beryl became a Category 5 hurricane, with wind speeds of more than 160 m.p.h. It has since weakened to a tropical storm, but it is expected to intensify again before making another landfall in Texas as a Category 1 hurricane.

It is no surprise to meteorologists that Beryl was able to strengthen so quickly and behave more like a peak-season storm. Hurricanes suck up warm ocean water and use it as fuel. In an optimal weather environment like this past weekend’s, the ample heat energy rapidly increases the storm’s intensity.

Abundantly warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean have been a concern since last season’s overly active year . On June 28, Beryl formed around ocean temperatures that were warmer than they were this time last year, and are more akin to what they typically would be during the peak of hurricane season, in September. Normally, early-season activity is limited in this portion of the Atlantic because those ocean temperatures are relatively cool.

But now they are hot. That helped Beryl strengthen into the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, according to Dr. Klotzbach. Previously, Hurricane Emily held the record for the earliest Category 5 hurricane, reaching that strength on July 16, 2005.

Because of the ocean’s heat, Beryl formed farther east in the Atlantic than any storm has in the month of June, breaking a record set by an unnamed storm formed east of the Caribbean on June 24, 1933.

The warm ocean temperature is one of the main reasons experts have been predicting an extremely active hurricane season this year. It is also why forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, who predict there will be 8 to 13 hurricanes this season, believe about half of those will reach major hurricane status, as Beryl did this weekend.

Usually, early-season activity doesn’t have much bearing on the rest of the season’s activity. But, in June, when that activity occurs as far east as Beryl did, Dr. Klotzbach says, “it tends to be a harbinger of a very busy season.”

Orlando Mayorquín

Texas has a long and deadly history of hurricanes.

The tense scenes in the hours ahead of Beryl’s arrival are uncomfortably familiar to generations of weather-tested residents of the Texas coast.

Beryl, a tropical storm that was approaching the Texas shore early Sunday, may soon become the latest in a long line of hurricanes to hit the state.

Here are some notables ones. The death toll associated with each hurricane can vary widely in some cases, depending on the reporting authority and the criteria used to determine whether a death was caused by the storm.

Hurricane Harvey (2017)

Hurricane Harvey made a late-night landfall on the Texas coast near Rockport on Aug. 25, 2017, as a Category 4 hurricane . It was strongest storm to hit Texas since Hurricane Carla struck as a Category 4 in 1961.

Harvey unleashed dozens of tornadoes and brought severe flooding to Harris County and surrounding communities, swelling rivers to record levels and turning vast stretches of roads and buildings into a muddy sea, according to the National Weather Service.

At least 68 people died in Texas, according to the Weather Service.

Hurricane Ike (2008)

Ike reached its peak intensity as a Category 4 hurricane over the Caribbean before weakening to a Category 2 hurricane on Sept. 13, 2008 , as it made landfall in the upper coast of Texas.

The storm was characterized by the significant storm surge it produced, roughly between 15 and 20 feet high along the Galveston shores, according to the Weather Service.

The deaths of least 28 people are attributed to Ike, according to the Weather Service . Other agencies, such as the Texas General Land Office, place the death toll at 74.

Hurricane Rita (2005)

Rita arrived on the shores of Texas and Louisiana as a Category 3 hurricane on Sept. 24, 2005. The storm’s intensity peaked at Category 5 as it moved over the Gulf of Mexico.

Striking less than a month after Hurricane Katrina, it prompted mass evacuations and killed at least seven people, according to the Weather Service. Other counts put the number of dead at more than 100 .

Galveston Hurricane (1900)

A Category 4 storm landed on the Texas shore south of Galveston on Sept. 8, 1900, swallowing Galveston Island, according to the Weather Service.

The storm was the deadliest weather-related disaster in the history of the United States at the time, claimin g at least 6,000 lives and as many as 12,000 by some estimates.

The weather in Corpus Christi is calm and overcast this morning, with winds of 16 miles per hour. Ahead of the storm, the ferry to Port Aransas will close at noon. The Texas A&M University campus here will also close today.

Beryl’s eye and its spiraling bands of rain are now visible from U.S.-based radar stations. See more maps, and estimated arrival times of damaging winds, on our tracker page .

Austyn Gaffney

How future hurricanes could stress power grids of American cities.

The risk of hurricane-induced power outages could become 50 percent higher in some areas of the United States, including Puerto Rico, because of climate change in the coming decades, according to a new analysis.

Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Electric Power Research Institute mapped how future hurricanes could affect power supplies, allowing residents to see how vulnerable their electricity is.

The research comes just after Hurricane Beryl broke records as the earliest Category 4 and 5 storm to form in the Atlantic Ocean. The storm flattened islands in the Caribbean, killed at least eight people and left vulnerable island communities in shambles. On Friday, it made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula and its projected path suggests it could hit northern Mexico and the Gulf Coast of Texas this weekend.

“These hurricanes can cause really devastating power outages,” said Julian Rice, a data scientist at the national laboratory who helped develop the map. Those outages can have subsequent effects, he said, like reducing access to health care and cutting off power used to heat and cool homes.

The researchers used computers to model almost one million hurricanes under simulated climate scenarios. The models projected factors like humidity, wind and sea surface temperatures under various potential global warming situations between 2066 and 2100.

The Pacific Northwest team then partnered with the power research institute, a nonprofit group focused on electricity research, to pair these mock hurricanes with a power outage model that trained on outage data from 23 hurricanes that affected the United States over the last decade.

The projections suggest that increasingly stronger and wetter storms, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, will make landfall more frequently and push further inland, with tangible effects on the grid. In these scenarios, increased rainfall clogs soil and weighs down tree canopies. Trees can easily uproot or become unstable, falling on power lines or causing landslides that knock out electric infrastructure.

The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast coastal areas are predicted to see the zone of potential climate-driven storms and hurricanes shift upward, exposing them more often to the risk of outages. The average person in the metropolitan areas of Boston, Houston and New Orleans could see expected outage events increase more than 70 percent per decade, the analysis found. In Tampa, it’s even higher, and in Miami, residents could see a 119 percent increase.

Hurricanes get a lot of attention from utility companies along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, said Andrea Staid, research leader in energy systems and climate analysis at the Electric Power Research Institute, who helped author the study.

But the analysis could help energy companies plan future improvements, she said. “It motivates them even more because it shows what can happen if we don’t adapt,” Dr. Staid said, “if we don’t take climate considerations into account when planning our energy system.”

Over the last decade, the number of weather-related power outages has almost doubled, according to Climate Central. Most major power outages between 2000 and 2023 were caused by extreme weather, and 14 percent of those were caused by tropical cyclones and hurricanes.

Some of the counties with the highest risk for more frequent power outages — like Broward County, Fla., Wilkinson County, Miss., and Hyde County, N.C. — also have the highest levels of social vulnerability , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those counties have demographic and social-economic factors, like poverty and lack of transportation access, that can adversely affect communities that face natural disasters.

Joan Casey, an associate professor of public health at the University of Washington, said power outages amplify risk for people with underlying health conditions. Lack of power can quickly take people that are vulnerable, such as those who use electricity-dependent respirators, from relative safety to a dangerous situation.

The map has limitations. Researchers used the worst-case future climate scenario projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and considered a static infrastructure grid without factoring in potential changes that could harden the power system, like burying lines underground, strengthening poles, or installing community-scale solar.

But Karthik Balaguru, a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researcher and co-creator of the map, pointed out that while it’s a worst-case model, some research suggests that we’re trekking closer to this model than any other by midcentury.

And hurricanes aren’t the only risk. Last week, a report from the Union of Concerned Scientists found that by 2050, a different climate risk, sea level rise, could expose more than 1,600 critical buildings and services to flooding twice a year, including more than 150 electrical substations.

“It’s a wake-up call that we need to be addressing our power system and making it much more reliable and much more resilient to climate related stresses,” said Kristina Dahl, a principal climate scientist for the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists and a co-author of the report.

Dr. Casey said we could take important steps now to invest in our grid, particularly with solar and battery storage that can provide community-scale power. But that won’t be enough.

“We have to stop burning fossil fuels,” said Dr. Casey. “That’s pretty much the answer.”