Hurricane Beryl has made landfall in the Windward Islands as a formidable Category 4 storm, bringing violent winds, intense rainfall, and life-threatening storm surges. Beryl hit Carriacou Island in the Grenadines on Monday around 11:00 a.m. EDT, with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
As the strongest hurricane on record to pass through this region since 1851, Beryl has caused widespread power outages, flooded streets, and significant storm surge flooding across the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados, and Tobago.
Beryl’s early arrival marks an unprecedented start to the Atlantic hurricane season. It is the earliest Category 4 hurricane recorded in the Atlantic and the only Category 4 to form in June. Abnormally warm ocean waters, a consequence of fossil fuel pollution, have contributed to Beryl’s rapid intensification.
Current Situation:
- Location and Movement: Beryl is near Carriacou Island, moving west-northwest at 20 mph with hurricane-force winds extending 40 miles from its center.
- Storm Surge and Flooding: The NHC warns of storm surges raising water levels by 6 to 9 feet, causing life-threatening surf, rip currents, and flash flooding in parts of the Windward Islands and Barbados.
- Evacuations and Closures: Over 400 people in Barbados are in shelters, a state of emergency is in effect in Grenada, and airports in Barbados, Grenada, and Saint Lucia are closed.
Warnings and Watches:
- Hurricane Warnings: Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands, Grenada, and Tobago.
- Hurricane Watch: Jamaica.
- Tropical Storm Warnings: Martinique, Trinidad, and St. Lucia.
- Tropical Storm Watches: South coast of the Dominican Republic and south coast of Haiti.
Looking Ahead: Beryl is expected to remain a major hurricane as it moves west or northwest over the Caribbean Sea through Thursday. It could bring severe impacts to Jamaica and potentially make another landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula by Friday morning. If Beryl reaches the Gulf of Mexico, it could pose significant risks to northeast Mexico or the US Gulf Coast.
Record-Breaking Activity: Beryl’s early and intense development is a harbinger of a hyperactive hurricane season. With ocean temperatures unusually warm and minimal wind shear due to the El Niño to La Niña transition, conditions are ripe for further tropical development. The National Weather Service predicts 17 to 25 named storms this season, with up to 13 becoming hurricanes, far exceeding the average.
Hurricane Beryl’s unprecedented behavior highlights the urgent need for preparedness and underscores the impacts of climate change on hurricane activity.
