Powerful Category 5 Hurricane Beryl has left at least four people dead as it passes through the southeastern Caribbean. The storm poses a serious threat as it heads toward Jamaica.
Beryl crossed the southeastern Caribbean, destroying islands such as Carriacou and Grenada. With devastating winds and storm surges fueled by unusually warm Atlantic waters, the storm smashed doors, windows, and roofs, snapped banana trees in half, and killed livestock. Authorities reported three deaths in Grenada and another in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Route to Jamaica. Warnings Issued.
Hurricane Beryl continues toward Jamaica, where authorities have issued evacuation warnings. Beryl is expected to bring potentially deadly winds and storm surges to the island. Officials have warned residents in low-lying areas to prepare for evacuation.
Currently, there is an active hurricane watch for Jamaica and an advisory for the islands of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. Although the storm is forecast to begin to lose intensity on Tuesday, forecasters insist that it will maintain high strength as it passes near Jamaica on Wednesday, the Cayman Islands on Thursday, and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Friday.
Forecasts and Preparations
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), Beryl was about 485 kilometers southeast of Isla Beata in the Dominican Republic, with maximum winds of 270 kilometers per hour and moving in a west-northwest direction at 35 km/h. “Beryl remains an imposing Category 5 hurricane,” said the NHC, which has issued a tropical storm warning for the entire southern coast of Hispaniola.
The hurricane made landfall on the island of Carriacou in Grenada as the earliest Category 4 storm in the Atlantic hurricane season’s history. It subsequently reached Category 5, and winds are likely to fluctuate over the next few days as it moves through the Caribbean. Streets on the island of St. Lucia, south of Grenada, are a stark reminder of the power of the hurricane, with downed trees, wires, and other debris strewn about. The fear and uncertainty caused by the storm are palpable. Rescuers are working tirelessly to determine the full extent of the damage, with water, food, and baby formula as supply priorities. Meanwhile, the hurricane continues its path through the southeastern Caribbean, a reminder of the strength of nature and the need for preparedness.
Future Expectations
Beryl is likely to experience fluctuations in intensity but is expected to maintain the magnitude of a major hurricane as it moves through the central Caribbean and passes near Jamaica on Wednesday. After landfall, a noticeable weakening is expected. Ivan was the last powerful hurricane to hit the southeastern Caribbean 20 years ago, causing dozens of deaths in Grenada.
As the situation unfolds, everyone must stay informed and heed the recommendations and warnings issued by the authorities. By doing so, we can all play a part in ensuring the safety of residents in affected and at-risk areas, and in mitigating the impact of this powerful hurricane.
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With information from noaa.gov and agencies
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