BTN News: The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Beryl is now a dangerous Category 5 hurricane in the eastern Caribbean.
Beryl Will Bring Deadly Winds and Storm Surges to Jamaica and Then Mexico
Beryl will bring very strong winds and big waves to Jamaica later this week. After that, it will move towards Mexico. Beryl’s quick growth is an unusually strong start to this year’s Atlantic hurricane season. It is the earliest recorded Category 4 hurricane ever.
Scientists Say Climate Change is Making Hurricanes Stronger and More Frequent
Experts say Beryl is a sign of a very active hurricane season. This is because the Atlantic Ocean is warmer than usual. Christopher Rozoff, a scientist at the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research, said, “Climate change is making hurricanes stronger.” Andra Garner, a meteorologist in New Jersey, noted that Beryl became a Category 4 storm in less than 10 hours.
Local Authorities Prepare for the Worst as Beryl Approaches
Local leaders are getting people ready for the worst. Ralph Gonsalves, the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, warned that a natural disaster could last for days, saying, “We have to wait out this monster.” In Kingstown, conditions got worse around the main port on Monday morning, with some buildings damaged by the wind. Videos showed waves hitting a seawall and palm trees blowing in the wind.
Beryl’s Current Status and Predicted Path
As of Monday afternoon, Beryl had winds of 241 kilometers per hour (kph) with even stronger gusts. It was about 105 kilometers northwest of Grenada. Moving west-northwest at 32 kph, Beryl is expected to pass over many of the central Caribbean’s most populated islands by Wednesday. It will then head towards the Gulf of Mexico, according to the NHC.
Areas Expected to Suffer the Worst Damage
The center of the hurricane is likely to cause very bad wind damage as it moves through parts of the Windward Islands. The areas at highest risk are Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.
Hurricane and Storm Warnings Have Been Issued
Hurricane warnings are in effect for Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Tobago. A tropical storm warning has been issued for Martinique and Trinidad. There are also storm alerts in parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
