Hurricane Beryl Kicks Off Intense Predicted Storm Season — Here's What Travelers Should Know

After building in the Caribbean Sea, Hurricane Beryl hit land on July 1 on the Grenadines’ Carriacou Island as a Category 4 storm. CNN documented Beryl as “the strongest known hurricane to pass through [the] region” around the Caribbean Sea. Beryl reportedly kicked off the year’s Atlantic hurricane season, which is expected to be “hyperactive” and “unprecedented.”

The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration, or NOAA, issued a public advisory outlining various warning and watch alerts for Caribbean countries. Those listed included St. Vincent, Grenada, Jamaica, Martinique, St. Lucia, and more.

“Maximum sustained winds are near 150 mph (240 km/h) with higher gusts,” said NOAA. “Fluctuations in strength are likely during the next day or so, but Beryl is expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane as it moves over the eastern Caribbean. Some weakening is expected in the central Caribbean by midweek, though Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane.”

What And When Is Hurricane Season?

A hurricane is a tropical cyclone storm with violent winds at or above 74 miles per hour. A storm classified as a “major hurricane” has winds at or above 111 miles per hour. According to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, more intense storms would be Category 3, 4, or 5.

Hurricane seasons can differ depending on location, but the Atlantic region spans June through November. NOAA notes, “The Atlantic basin includes the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico.”

Dangers and risks associated with hurricanes include urgent evacuations, extreme flooding, power outages, architectural damages, closed airports, and more. The National Weather Service highlighted that a storm surge, “the abnormal rise of water generated by a storm’s winds,” is particularly concerning. The source described the hazard as “historically the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths in the United States.”

What Should Travelers Know?

In May, the State Department shared seven travel tips for this year’s Atlantic hurricane season. Much of the advice revolves around being informed about storms and preparing for when they arrive. As a traveler, you should feel assured that you and your party will be able to urgently leave a destination or get emergency medical treatment if ever needed. You should also be able to communicate with your loved ones or someone at a U.S. embassy if you’re ever in a dire situation due to a storm.

“We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance before you travel to cover emergency medical care, either as part of or separate from trip cancellation insurance. Medical facilities and providers abroad may require cash up front and may not accept U.S. insurance plans,” the State Department noted.

See the list below.

1. Get informed
2. Purchase additional travel insurance
3. Have a plan
4. Prepare a watertight emergency kit that includes passports, prescription medications and local currency
5. Monitor local news and the National Hurricane Center
6. Enroll in STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program)
7. Save the contact information of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate to where you’re traveling