Tropical Storm Edouard knocked out power to more than 70,000 customers across Southeast Texas after making landfall near Johnson Bayou, Louisiana, on Tuesday, September 1, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and flooding to the Beaumont-Port Arthur area.
Edouard weakened after moving inland, but residents across Jefferson County, Orange County and surrounding communities continued to face power outages, fallen trees and flooded roads. Attention is now shifting from the storm’s landfall to electricity restoration and the lingering flash-flood threat.
• Landfall: Near Johnson Bayou, Louisiana, around 2:20 p.m. CDT Tuesday
• Winds at landfall: 60 mph
• Gust near Texas Point: 71 mph
• Beaumont-Port Arthur airport gust: 69 mph
• Entergy Texas outages: About 70,000 Tuesday evening
• Main concerns: Power outages, heavy rain and flash flooding
More than 70,000 customers lose power
Entergy Texas said nearly 70,000 customers were without electricity by 7:15 p.m. Tuesday as Edouard crossed Southeast Texas. Later outage counts climbed above that level.
Jefferson County, which includes Beaumont and Port Arthur, was among the hardest-hit areas, with more than 47,000 outages reported at one stage. Neighboring Orange County had roughly 11,000 customers without electricity.
Entergy deployed more than 1,500 resources to assess damage and restore service. Flooding, fallen trees and unsafe winds can delay crews from reaching damaged lines and equipment.
Beaumont hit by flooding and fallen trees
Edouard’s center crossed the Beaumont metropolitan area Tuesday evening. Police reported flooded underpasses, fallen trees blocking roads and traffic signals that were not working.
City offices were closed and emergency officials urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Beaumont also asked residents and businesses to report property damage through Texas’ iSTAT system once it is safe to do so.
Residents should stay away from downed power lines and avoid entering buildings with serious flooding, structural damage or suspected gas leaks.
Edouard made landfall with 60 mph winds
The National Hurricane Center said Edouard made landfall near Johnson Bayou in Cameron Parish, southwestern Louisiana, at approximately 2:20 p.m. CDT.
Maximum sustained winds were estimated at 60 mph. A station near Texas Point recorded a 71 mph gust, while Southeast Texas Regional Airport near Beaumont-Port Arthur later measured a 69 mph gust.
By 7 p.m., Edouard’s center was about 10 miles northwest of Beaumont and 25 miles northwest of Port Arthur, with maximum sustained winds down to about 45 mph.
Up to 12 inches of rain possible
Heavy rainfall became the main concern as Edouard weakened. Forecasts called for 3 to 7 inches across parts of eastern Texas, with isolated totals potentially reaching 12 inches. Southwestern Louisiana was expected to receive lower amounts.
That rainfall could trigger flash flooding, overwhelm urban drainage systems and cause rivers to rise. The Neches River at the Saltwater Barrier was approaching flood stage Tuesday evening.
Drivers should not attempt to cross flooded roads. Water can conceal damaged pavement and may be deeper or faster-moving than it appears.
San Antonio Power Outage Today: When Will Power Be Restored?
Is Outlook Down Right Now? Microsoft Outlook Outage Hits Thousands
Houston sees less disruption than Beaumont
Houston officials prepared for heavy rainfall by barricading flood-prone roads and lowering Lake Houston by about one foot below full pool to provide additional capacity for runoff.
CenterPoint Energy positioned thousands of workers ahead of the storm, while several Houston-area school districts closed because of the flooding threat. Houston avoided the concentration of outages reported farther east in Entergy Texas territory.
Tropical Storm Edouard is sweeping across Southeast Texas, bringing the potential for power outages. Here's how many outages have been reported, how to view the outage map, and how to report an outage at your home. https://t.co/owK9Kv9lrq
— FOX26Houston (@FOX26Houston) September 1, 2026
When will power return in Beaumont?
Entergy had not announced one restoration deadline for all affected communities. Crews need to inspect damaged poles, lines and other infrastructure before reliable neighborhood-level estimates can be provided.
Locations with limited damage could regain service sooner, while neighborhoods affected by flooding, fallen trees or significant electrical damage may take longer. Similar restoration challenges followed the recent Washington County power outage that affected tens of thousands of customers.
Edouard weakens, but risks remain
Edouard was expected to weaken rapidly over land and lose its tropical-storm status, but that does not immediately eliminate the danger. Heavy rain and rising waterways can continue causing problems after winds subside.
Extended outages can also become more difficult if hot conditions return, particularly for households without air conditioning. Recent dangerous heat alerts in the United States highlight the added risk heat can create when electricity is unavailable.
For Beaumont, Port Arthur and surrounding Southeast Texas communities, the focus is now on restoring power, clearing blocked roads and monitoring flooding as Edouard continues to weaken inland.
Make Swikblog your go-to source on Google for reliable updates, smart insights, and daily trends.
