Hurricane Beryl Threatens the Lesser Antilles
Hurricane Beryl is rapidly intensifying as it approaches the southern part of the Lesser Antilles, with expectations to hit on Monday. Initially forming as a tropical depression, it quickly escalated to a tropical storm and then a hurricane between Friday and Saturday. Currently classified as a category 2 hurricane, the American Hurricane Center (NHC) warns that Beryl will soon become a 'major hurricane,' reaching category 3 status, and potentially escalating to category 4 by the time it impacts the islands.
As of Sunday noon, Paris time, Beryl's average winds are blowing at 160 km/h. When these winds reach 178 km/h, Beryl will be classified as a major hurricane. If it advances to category 4, wind speeds could range between 209 km/h and 251 km/h. Such an early major hurricane in the season, which spans from June to November in the North Atlantic, is rare, having only occurred five times before the first week of July.
Areas at Risk and Preparedness Measures
The most exposed regions include Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, and Grenada. Martinique is currently on yellow cyclone alert, with potential for higher alert levels. The NHC's forecast trajectory suggests that after crossing the Antilles, Beryl could threaten the southern regions of Haiti and Jamaica, with further uncertainty about its path potentially affecting Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and southeastern Mexico.
In anticipation of Beryl, residents in Barbados are taking precautionary measures, such as stocking up on gasoline, water, food, and essentials, and boarding up windows. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as another disturbed zone in the area could potentially develop into a hurricane next week.
- The NHC and the National Meteorological Service of Mexico (SMN) are also monitoring two other areas where tropical cyclones could develop. One area of low pressure in the western Caribbean Sea has a 30% chance of becoming a cyclone within the next 48 hours to seven days. This system is currently advancing at about 24 km/h in a west-northwest direction and is located approximately 335 km from the Costa Maya port.
- Another low-pressure area southwest of the Cape Verde Islands is also under surveillance. The NHC expects a very active hurricane season this year, with a 70% chance of 17 to 25 named tropical cyclones, of which 8 to 13 could become hurricanes. In Mexico, authorities forecast 15 to 18 named systems in the Pacific Ocean and 20 to 23 in the Atlantic.
