Extremely dangerous Category 4 Hurricane Beryl nears the Caribbean, posing severe threats. Stay updated on safety and impact measures
Beryl Becomes Earliest Category 4 Hurricane in Atlantic History
Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season, has intensified
into an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds
of 130 mph as of Sunday morning. This formidable storm is now making its way
toward the Windward Islands.
Beryl has set a new record as the earliest Category 4 hurricane ever
recorded in the Atlantic Ocean and the only such storm recorded in June.
Typically, the first hurricane of the season does not appear until August 11.
As of 2 p.m. ET, Beryl was located about 310 miles east-southeast of Barbados,
heading west.
A satellite image of Tropical Storm Beryl, provided by NOAA at 19:27 UTC
on Saturday, June 29, shows the storm's rapid intensification. The National
Hurricane Center (NHC) has warned that "a life-threatening storm surge
will raise water levels by as much as 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels in
areas of onshore flow near where the eye makes landfall in the hurricane
warning area." This surge could bring large and destructive waves near the
coast.
The hurricane has been strengthening quickly, with its wind speeds
increasing by 55 mph in the 24 hours leading up to Sunday morning. “We’re
forecasting rapid intensification and expecting Beryl to become a major
hurricane before it reaches places like Barbados and the Windward Islands and
continue to be a powerful hurricane as it moves into the eastern and central
Caribbean as we go into the early portions of next week,” NHC Director Mike
Brennan told CNN’s Fredricka Whitfield on Saturday. Rapid intensification is
defined as an increase in maximum sustained wind speed of 35 mph or more in a
24-hour period.
Residents in Barbados and other islands in the hurricane warning area
are preparing for the potential impact of Beryl, which could be felt as early
as Sunday evening. Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados has urged all
non-essential businesses on the island to close by 8:30 p.m. Sunday. The center
of Beryl is expected to pass about 75 miles south of Barbados early Monday
morning, bringing hurricane-force winds, heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and
severe thunderstorm activity.
Barbados, Grenada, and Saint Lucia will close some of their airports
Sunday night as Beryl approaches. Grenada’s Maurice Bishop International
Airport will close at 6 p.m., with plans to reopen on Tuesday at 10 a.m.,
subject to change. The Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados will
close from 7 p.m. until further notice. The Hewanorra International Airport and
the George F. L. Charles Airport in Saint Lucia will also suspend operations.
Barbados, still hosting cricket fans from around the globe for the T20
World Cup, is making efforts to support visitors unfamiliar with hurricanes.
Large crowds and long lines have been reported at local grocery stores and gas
stations as people prepare for the storm. In Saint Lucia, a national shutdown
will take effect at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, with businesses and schools remaining
closed on Monday. Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre urged residents to secure
their properties and ensure they have necessary supplies.
Beryl is the earliest major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) in the
Atlantic in 58 years. It is now the Atlantic Ocean’s third-earliest major
hurricane, following Hurricane Alma on June 8, 1996, and Hurricane Audrey on
June 27, 1957. The storm has also set a record for the easternmost hurricane to
form in the Tropical Atlantic in June, surpassing a record set in 1933.
This year, the Atlantic basin has seen above-normal water temperatures
and a lack of wind shear due to the transition from El Niño to La Niña
conditions, both of which fuel tropical development. “Beryl has found an
environment with very warm ocean waters for this time of year,” Brennan
explained.
The National Weather Service predicts an above-normal hurricane season,
with 17 to 25 named storms, including eight to 13 hurricanes, of which four to
seven could be major hurricanes. This is attributed to near-record warm ocean
temperatures, La Niña conditions, reduced Atlantic trade winds, and less wind
shear, all of which favor tropical storm formation.
As Beryl continues to move westward, communities in its path are bracing
for impact and preparing for what could be a precursor to an active and intense
hurricane season.
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