Category 5 Hurricane Beryl Intensifies In Caribbean Islands

Hurricane Beryl reached Category 5 status, the strongest on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, after causing devastation in the southeastern Caribbean islands. It made landfall on Carriacou in Grenada and is considered the earliest Category 4 storm ever recorded in the Atlantic. The storm surge and high winds were fueled by unusually warm Atlantic waters.

Hurricane Beryl has strengthened to a powerful Category 5 storm, causing severe damage in the southeastern Caribbean Islands. Homes lost doors, windows, and roofs due to the devastating winds and storm surge, intensified by the unusually warm Atlantic Ocean.

Landfall and Damage: Beryl made landfall on Carriacou in Grenada, first as a Category 4 storm, then escalating to Category 5 with winds over 157 mph. This makes it the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic.

Casualties: Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell reported one death, with more possible as communication is down in the worst-hit areas.

Impact: Streets are littered with debris, downed trees, and power lines. Banana trees were snapped, and livestock perished. The storm continues to threaten the Caribbean, heading toward Jamaica and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Current Status: As of early Tuesday, Beryl’s winds reached 165 mph. Jamaica currently faces a hurricane warning, while the southern coast of Hispaniola, shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, is under a tropical storm warning. Fluctuations are possible, but Beryl is expected to pass near Jamaica on Wednesday, posing a significant threat to the island nation.

Historic Hurricane

Beryl intensified from a tropical depression to a major hurricane in just 42 hours, a rare and dangerous feat. It is only the second Category 5 hurricane recorded in July since 2005.

“Beryl is an extremely dangerous and rare hurricane for this time of year in this area,” hurricane expert Sam Lillo told the Associated Press in a phone interview. “Unusual is an understatement. Beryl is already a historic hurricane and it hasn’t struck yet.”

Warnings:
The National Hurricane Center advises people to stay indoors and not venture out during the storm. Forecasters predict a busy hurricane season, with Beryl being the second named storm so far.

Residents in the storm’s path are urged to closely monitor weather updates and heed all warnings issued by local officials. The NHC recommends staying in shelters and avoiding travel until the storm has passed.