Hurricane Beryl has intensified to a formidable Category 4 storm, boasting maximum sustained winds of 140 mph as it barrels towards the Windward Islands. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a dire warning, emphasizing the life-threatening conditions posed by the hurricane’s eyewall, which is currently moving over Carriacou Island. Residents in the affected areas are urged to take immediate action to protect their lives and property.
As of the latest advisory, Hurricane Beryl is located at latitude 12.4 North and longitude 61.3 West, approximately 35 miles northeast of Grenada and 15 miles east-southeast of Carriacou Island. The hurricane is moving west-northwest at a speed of 20 mph. The minimum central pressure has been recorded at 956 mb.
The NHC has issued a series of watches and warnings in response to Beryl’s approach. A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands, Grenada, and Tobago. Jamaica is under a Hurricane Watch, while Martinique, Trinidad, and St. Lucia are under a Tropical Storm Warning. Additionally, a Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for the south coast of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Hurricane Beryl is expected to maintain its strength as it moves through the Windward Islands into the eastern Caribbean. Although some weakening is anticipated by midweek, Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane as it progresses westward. The hurricane’s forceful winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center, with tropical-storm-force winds reaching up to 125 miles.
The impact of Hurricane Beryl is already being felt in the region. Reports from Crown Point, Tobago, indicate sustained winds of 46 mph with gusts up to 54 mph. The storm has caused downed trees, flooded streets, power outages, and storm surge flooding in the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados, and Tobago.
The NHC warns that hurricane conditions are occurring in the warning areas, with potentially catastrophic wind damage expected in the southern Windward Islands, including Carriacou Island, Grenada, and the Grenadine Islands. Wind speeds on the windward sides of hills and mountains could be up to 30 percent stronger than near-surface winds, posing an even greater threat in elevated locations.
A life-threatening storm surge is anticipated to raise water levels by 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds near the hurricane’s landfall. This surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves, further exacerbating the danger to coastal communities.
Rainfall from Hurricane Beryl is expected to total 3 to 6 inches across Barbados and the Windward Islands, with localized maxima of up to 10 inches possible in the Grenadines, Tobago, and Grenada. This heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding in vulnerable areas, adding to the storm’s destructive potential.
Large swells generated by Beryl are expected to impact the Windward and southern Leeward Islands over the next few days. These swells will also reach the southern coasts of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola, creating life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
The rapid intensification of Hurricane Beryl has been unprecedented for this time of year. The storm went from a tropical storm to a Category 3 hurricane in just 36 hours, intensifying by 75 mph during that period. This level of rapid intensification has never been recorded in June and has only occurred twice in July. Researchers attribute this phenomenon to human-induced climate change, with ocean waters running 3 to 4 degrees above average, more typical of August than June.
The Atlantic hurricane season of 2024 has already been marked by record-breaking activity, with Beryl being the first storm to reach such strength in this part of the ocean in June. Historical records dating back to 1851 show no precedent for a storm of this magnitude at this time of year.
In response to the approaching hurricane, Grenada has declared a state of emergency, and Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has urged the island’s 125,000 residents to stay home. St. Lucia has also implemented a national shutdown, with Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre announcing the closure of public life to ensure the safety of the country’s 170,000 residents. The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Meteorological Service has issued a flash-flood warning to its 100,000 residents.
In Barbados, residents are preparing for the storm’s impact. Doriel Gill-Skinner, a resident of Bridgetown, has been informing her neighbors about a local shelter and preparing her own emergency supplies. Despite the calm and confident mood in the community, residents are taking the storm seriously and making necessary preparations.
Tourists in the region are also bracing for the hurricane. Michael Tiller, a vacationer from Michigan, is staying in a rented home in Barbados and has taken steps to secure the property. Nauman Khan, visiting from Toronto, has noticed the increasing winds and changes in his resort’s services as the storm approaches.
The rapid strengthening of Hurricane Beryl serves as a stark reminder of the increasing intensity of hurricanes in the Atlantic, driven by climate change. As the storm continues its path through the Caribbean, residents and authorities are urged to remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
Source: National Hurricane Center, The Washington Post, Reuters
