A powerful Hurricane Beryl has struck the Caribbean island of Carriacou, part of Grenada, becoming the earliest storm of its strength to form in the Atlantic due to unusually warm waters. With winds reaching up to 150 mph (240 kph), Beryl has caused extensive damage, including roofs blown off and landfall.
Hurricane warnings were issued for Barbados, Grenada, Tobago, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, prompting thousands to seek shelter as the storm approached. The last major hurricane to hit this region was Hurricane Ivan 20 years ago, which resulted in numerous fatalities in Grenada.
As of late Monday morning, Beryl was located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northeast of Grenada, moving west-northwest at 20 mph (31 kph) with sustained winds of 150 mph (240 kph). Reports from Barbados indicated roof damage, fallen trees, and power outages across the island.
Forecasters warned of life-threatening storm surges up to 9 feet (3 meters) in affected areas and heavy rainfall of 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15 centimeters), potentially reaching 10 inches (25 centimeters) in some locales like Grenada and the Grenadines. The hurricane is expected to weaken slightly over the Caribbean but poses a continued threat as it heads towards Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
Authorities across the southeast Caribbean implemented controlled shutdowns and urged residents to prepare for landslides and flash flooding. Schools, airports, and government offices were closed as precautionary measures.
Beryl’s rapid intensification from a tropical depression to a major hurricane in just 42 hours marks a historical milestone in Atlantic hurricane records. It underscores concerns about warming ocean temperatures, which are higher now than typical peak hurricane season conditions in September.
As the region braces for potential further storms, officials are monitoring additional weather systems with a 70% chance of developing into a tropical depression. The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, has already seen early activity with Tropical Storm Alberto and now Hurricane Beryl, prompting heightened preparations across vulnerable areas.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an above-average hurricane season for 2024, anticipating between 17 to 25 named storms, including as many as 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.