150 mph roof-ripping winds hit Caribbean: Hurricane Beryl declared Category 5

Hurricane Beryl has intensified to a Category 5 hurricane, wreaking havoc across the south-eastern Caribbean islands.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) posted on X, stating, “Beryl Becomes a potentially catastrophic Category 5 hurricane In the Eastern Caribbean. Expected to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica later this week.”

On Monday, Beryl made landfall on Carriacou in Grenada, becoming the earliest Category 4 storm in the Atlantic. Fueled by record warm waters, it wreaked havoc, tearing off doors, windows, and roofs from homes.

Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell, confirmed one fatality and mentioned that communication lines were largely down, making it difficult to assess the full extent of the damage on Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

“In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened,” Mitchell said during a press conference. He later communicated via Facebook that the government was mobilizing relief supplies to the affected islands and urged residents to stay indoors.

The storm caused widespread damage from St. Lucia to Grenada. Streets were filled with debris like shoes, trees, and fallen power lines. Banana trees were broken, and livestock were found dead in fields, with homes nearby leaning dangerously. By late Monday, Beryl’s winds had reached 260 km/h (160 mph), and they are expected to change in strength in the coming days.

Heading towards Jamaica and beyond

As Beryl progresses into the Caribbean Sea, it is projected to pass just south of Jamaica and head towards Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula by late Thursday, possibly as a Category 1 storm. Hurricane warnings were issued for Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, Tobago, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, prompting thousands to seek shelter.

“It’s going to be terrible,” Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, warned as he urged residents to stay indoors and “wait this monster out.” The last strong hurricane to hit the southeast Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan nearly 20 years ago, which caused significant casualties in Grenada.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for Martinique and Trinidad, while a tropical storm watch was issued for Dominica, Haiti’s entire southern coast, and from Punta Palenque in the Dominican Republic west to the Haitian border.

“This is a very dangerous situation,” the NHC in Miami cautioned.

Beryl: Record-breaking hurricane

Beryl’s swift transformation from a tropical depression to a major hurricane in just 42 hours is a rare phenomenon, only matched by six other Atlantic hurricanes. This accelerated development, earlier than the previous record on September 1, highlights the unprecedented nature of this storm.

Hurricane expert Sam Lillo noted that Beryl’s strength is attributed to record warm waters, which are unusually high for this time of year, typically seen during the peak hurricane season in September.

Beryl is also the earliest Category 4 Atlantic hurricane, surpassing Hurricane Dennis, which reached Category 4 status on July 8, 2005. Hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry emphasized that these warm waters, a consequence of the global climate crisis and fossil fuel combustion, significantly contributed to Beryl’s intensity.

Furthermore, Beryl is the earliest hurricane to form this far east in the tropical Atlantic since 1933, according to Philip Klotzbach, a hurricane expert from Colorado State University.

Beryl is the second named storm of this Atlantic hurricane season, which lasts from June 1 to November 30. Earlier this month, Tropical Storm Alberto, the first named storm, hit northeast Mexico, causing four deaths, as per the report by The Guardian .

Preparing for an active hurricane season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted an above-average 2024 hurricane season, anticipating 17 to 25 named storms, including up to 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

Historically, an average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named storms, with seven becoming hurricanes and three reaching major hurricane status.

In Barbados, Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams announced the use of drones to assess damage swiftly after Beryl passes, a method faster than deploying ground crews.