BRIDGETOWN: The southeast Caribbean islands are on high alert as Hurricane Beryl rapidly intensified into an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm, marking a dire start to the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.
According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), Beryl is currently situated approximately 465 miles (750 kilometers) east of Barbados, poised to bring life-threatening conditions to the Windward Islands by early Monday. The storm is expected to unleash devastating winds and storm surge.
Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada have all been placed under hurricane warnings, while tropical storm warnings or watches are in effect for Martinique, Tobago, and Dominica, as per the latest NHC advisory.
Preparations ahead of the storm’s arrival have intensified across the region. In Bridgetown, Barbados, long lines formed at gas stations, supermarkets were crowded with shoppers stocking up on essentials like food and water, and homeowners began boarding up their properties in anticipation of the powerful storm.
Beryl’s escalation into a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds reaching nearly 100 mph and higher gusts reported. Category 4 storms are defined by sustained winds of at least 130 mph (209 km/h), capable of causing extensive damage to structures and infrastructure.
The NHC has warned of potentially catastrophic wind damage where the eyewall of Beryl makes landfall in the Windward Islands. Heavy rainfall, leading to flooding, and storm surge as high as nine feet (2.7 meters) above normal tide levels are also expected.
Hurricane expert Michael Lowry highlighted the rarity of such a potent storm forming this early and in this location in the Atlantic. Beryl’s development marks only the sixth major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) to have formed before the first week of July in recorded Atlantic hurricane history.
The 2024 hurricane season has been forecasted to be exceptionally active, with predictions by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) suggesting up to seven storms reaching Category 3 or higher. Factors contributing to this forecast include warm Atlantic ocean temperatures and conditions associated with La Niña in the Pacific.
Extreme weather events including hurricanes have become more frequent and more devastating in recent years as a result of climate change.
