Hurricane Beryl is sweeping through the south-east Caribbean as a powerful Category 4 storm. This is the strongest storm the Windward Islands have seen in two decades,bringing life-threatening storm surges, violent winds, and flash flooding.
As of early Monday, Beryl, a powerful Category 4 storm, was situated 125 miles east-southeast of Grenada, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and moving west at 20 mph. The compact storm has hurricane-force winds extending 35 miles from its center.
The last strong hurricane to hit the south-east Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan nearly 20 years ago, which killed dozens of people in Grenada.
Beryl initially reached Category 4 status on Sunday, becoming the earliest storm of such strength to form in the Atlantic this year. Fueled by record warm waters, it weakened to a Category 3 briefly but quickly regained its Category 4 status.
The National Hurricane Center has issued hurricane warnings :
- A tropical storm warning was in effect for Martinique and Trinidad.
- A tropical storm watch was issued for Dominica, Haiti’s entire southern coast, and from Punta Palenque in the Dominican Republic west to the border with Haiti.
Although a direct landfall is not likely to occur, the islands are bracing for heavy impacts. Communities are preparing for violent winds and flash flooding, with local officials warning of potential damage to homes and widespread power outages.
Forecasters are warning of a life-threatening storm surge of up to 9 feet where Beryl makes landfall. Rainfall predictions include:
- Barbados and Nearby Islands: 3-6 inches
- Grenada and the Grenadines: Up to 10 inches in some areas
Beryl is forecasted to weaken slightly over the Caribbean Sea, moving south of Jamaica and toward Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula as a Category 1 hurricane.
About Beryl
Beryl has become a major hurricane in just 42 hours after starting as a tropical depression. This has only happened six other times in Atlantic hurricane history, with the earliest date being September 1st, according to hurricane expert Sam Lillo.
The storm is unusually early this season. It’s the third earliest major hurricane ever in the Atlantic Ocean. The earliest was Hurricane Alma on June 8, 1966, followed by Hurricane Audrey on June 27, 1957.
Beryl has also set a new record for being the easternmost hurricane to form in the Tropical Atlantic in June, breaking a previous record from 1933. Usually, the central and eastern Atlantic become more active in August when ocean temperatures have warmed up enough to support developing storms.
Contributing Factors were:
- Record Warm Waters: Warmer than usual, contributing to Beryl’s rapid intensification
- Global Climate Crisis: Hotter water temperatures are attributed to climate change driven by fossil fuel consumption
The National Hurricane Center emphasised the severity of Beryl, cautioning that it will remain a significant hurricane throughout its journey across the Caribbean. They warned of life-threatening storm surges, towering waves, dangerous surf, and rip currents.
Ralph Gonsalves, the prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, said,
“I want everybody in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to take this matter very seriously,”
“We all have to prepare for the worst. It’s going to be terrible,” He urged people to stay indoors “and wait this monster out”.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley urged citizens to remain vigilant. Authorities are stressing the importance of taking shelter and avoiding unnecessary risks.
Current Impact
- Over 400 people are housed in shelters across Barbados.
- State of Emergency declared in Grenada, lasting from Sunday night to Tuesday morning.
- Airports in Barbados, Grenada, and Saint Lucia are closed as a precaution. This had left many visitors, including cricket fans, stranded on the island. The Indian cricket team, winners of the T20 World Cup 2024 on June 29, is among those affected, forced to remain in their hotel
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