Hurricane Beryl has become a historic and potentially catastrophic Category 5 storm, wreaking havoc across the Caribbean. The hurricane, which is the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic, has caused widespread devastation, particularly in the Windward Islands, where at least one person has died.
Beryl's maximum sustained winds have reached 257 km/h, with higher gusts, making it the most powerful hurricane to pass through the Grenadines since records began in 1851. The hurricane has left thousands without power, damaged homes, and caused severe flooding.
In Grenada, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell reported widespread destruction in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, with 95% of the island without electricity. Telecommunications are down, and only hospitals and the National Police remain operational. The hurricane also severely impacted Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves noted that 90% of houses on Union Island were damaged or destroyed.
The storm's rapid intensification is attributed to abnormally warm ocean waters, a clear indicator of the hyperactive hurricane season ahead. Experts warn that Beryl's unprecedented strength for this time of year is a sign of the worsening climate crisis, with human-induced warming playing a significant role.
Beryl is expected to continue its path across the Caribbean, with hurricane warnings in place for Jamaica and tropical storm warnings for parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The storm is forecasted to bring life-threatening storm surges, heavy rains, and dangerous waves, with the potential to impact the Yucatan Peninsula and possibly the US Gulf Coast later this week.
- The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has emphasized the dangerous nature of Hurricane Beryl, urging residents in its path to take immediate action to protect their lives. The hurricane's strength is expected to fluctuate, but it will likely remain a major hurricane as it moves through the central Caribbean.
- In response to the hurricane, thousands of people have sought refuge in shelters across Barbados, Grenada, Tobago, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Authorities have declared states of emergency, closed airports, and issued warnings for severe storm surges and flooding.
- The environmental organization Greenpeace has highlighted the link between the unprecedented strength of Hurricane Beryl and climate change, pointing to the warming of the oceans as a key factor. They have called for urgent action to address the root causes of climate disasters, including reducing fossil fuel pollution.
- Meteorologists predict that this hurricane season will be exceptionally active, with up to 25 named storms and 13 hurricanes. The early and intense activity of Hurricane Beryl serves as a stark reminder of the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events in a warming world.
