Hurricane Beryl on path to Jamaica after monster storm with 165mph winds flattened tiny island in half an hour: Live updates
Hurricane Beryl is barreling toward Jamaica as a Category 5 storm with 165mph winds after charting a deadly path through Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines, flattening buildings and killing at least two people.
Beryl intensified to the earliest Category 5 storm recorded in the Atlantic overnight after smashing the record as the earliest Category 4 storm on record. The storm made landfall in the Windward Islands on Monday, where it “flattened” Carriacou Island within half an hour, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said.
There were “widespread reports of destruction and devastation in Carriacou and Petite Martinique,” Mitchell said on Monday.
At least one death was reported in Grenada and a second in St Vincent and the Grenadines, where Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said that around 90 percent of homes had been damaged or destroyed on Union Island.
Jamaica is now under a Hurricane Warning. The hurricane was located about 625 miles (1,005km) east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica and 300 miles (485km) southeast of Isla Beata of the Dominican Republic, packing maximum sustained winds of 165mph (270km/h), the National Hurricane Center said on Tuesday morning. The Cayman Islands is also under a Hurricane Watch.
Key Points
Hurricane Beryl tracker: When will storm hit Jamaica
Mapped: Hurricane Beryl’s path
At least two dead after Hurricane Beryl sweeps through eastern Caribbean
Texas now in Hurricane Beryl’s potential path
Spaghetti models show potential paths for Hurricane Beryl this week
Hurricane Beryl is now the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic
Spaghetti models show potential paths for Hurricane Beryl this week
17:51 , Katie Hawkinson
Tuesday afternoon spaghetti models show Hurricane Beryl could head directly to the southern tip of Texas over the next several days.
Spaghetti models show the potential paths a storm might take. The more clustered the lines, the more confidence there is in that path. However, the models do not predict storm strength or impact.
Forecasters will be able to make more confident projections as Hurricane Beryl gets closer to the Gulf Coast later this week.
For now, Jamaica and Hispaniola are bracing for the Category 5 storm to pass through their region on Wednesday.
Texas now in Hurricane Beryl’s potential path
17:34 , Katie Hawkinson
The southern tip of Texas could potentially be hit by Hurricane Beryl in the coming days, according to the latest projections from the National Weather Service.
The hurricane is projected to hit the region on Sunday, but that forecast could change as the eye of the storm travels north in the coming days.
For now, the Category 5 storm is barreling towards Jamaica and Hispaniola, where it will bring dangerous rainfall and storm surge.
The storm has already killed at least two people in the eastern Caribbean. The extreme winds and storm surge devastated homes and infrastructure throughout the region, leaving many without power.
Bird’s eye view: Hurricane Beryl, now Category 5, races towards Jamaica
17:30 , Katie Hawkinson
In photos: Devastation in Bequia after Hurricane Beryl
17:01 , Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Beryl destroyed homes and knocked out power as it passed through Bequia, the largest island in the Grenadines.
At least one person died on the island because of the storm, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said on Monday. The hurricane also damaged or destroyed 90 percent of homes on the nation’s Union Island.
At least two dead after Hurricane Beryl sweeps through eastern Caribbean
16:30 , Katie Hawkinson
At least two people died after Hurricane Beryl devastated islands in the eastern Caribbean.
One person was killed in St. George’s, Grenada’s capital, after a tree fell on their home.
“This hits home,” Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said. “The deceased person is in fact the relative of one of the persons who spent the last 36 hours with us here at the National Emergency Operating Center.”
Grenada’s Carriacou Island had also been “flattened” within 30 minutes by the devastating storm, Mitchell said.
Another person died in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Monday, according to Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves. Some 90 percent of homes on the nation’s Union Island were damaged or destroyed by the hurricane.
Hurricane Beryl became the earliest recorded Category 5 storm in Atlantic history overnight. On Monday, the hurricane beat the record for the earliest Category 4 storm as well.
X labeled AccuWeather’s Hurricane Beryl map as misinformation. Meteorologists worry it could cost lives
16:04 , Katie Hawkinson
AccuWeather meteorologists say X labeled their projected Hurricane Beryl path as “false information” but allowed other obvious misinformation on the site - a decision that could cost lives.
At least people have died as Hurricane Beryl sweeps through the eastern Caribbean.
Read more:
Hurricane Beryl update: AccuWeather says X is allowing misinformation on site
Hurricane Beryl is now the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic
15:41 , Amelia Neath
Hurricane Beryl has now beaten two historic records in the Atlantic as it continued to strengthen with winds sustained over 160mph.
Beryl now becomes the earliest Category 5 hurricane recorded in the Atlantic after it strengthened late on Monday, the National Hurricane Center has said.
The previous title was held by Hurricane Emily, who reached Category 5 on July 16, 2005.
Beryl was also named the earliest-ever Category 4 hurricane as it approached the eastern Caribbean over the weekend, as well as the only Category 4 in the month of June.
In this category, Beryl beat Hurricane Dennis, which became a Category 4 storm on July 8, 2005.
Jamaica residents brace for Hurricane Beryl
15:10 , Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Beryl is on a path to Jamaica, where it will bring “life-threatening” winds and storm surges on Wednesday.
The island is currently under a Hurricane Warning, according to the National Hurricane Center. Now, residents are rushing to grocery stores to stock up on supplies and working to protect their homes.
“Weakening should begin later today, but Beryl is still expected to be near major hurricane intensity as its moves into the central Caribbean and passes near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday,” the National Hurricane Center said on Tuesday.
St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said that Hurricane Beryl damaged 90 percent of homes on the nation’s Union Island when it blew through on Monday.
White House says President Biden are monitoring Hurricane Beryl
15:00 , Amelia Neath
President Joe Biden and his team say they are closely monitoring the intensified Hurricane Beryl, and are in contact with territory and local officials.
The White House says that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have resources and supplies that are ‘pre-staged’ in the region, with staff and partners ready to assist.
They added that the President stands ready to support the people of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the region as needed, and will work to ensure the safety of all US citizens in the region.
The President is also urging residents to pay attention to the warnings of local officials.
Beryl has sustained winds of 165mph as it strengthened into a Category 5 storm on Monday.
Grenada reopens airport after destructive Hurricane Beryl
14:45 , Katie Hawkinson
Grenada’s Maurice Bishop International Airport reopened Tuesday morning after Hurricane Beryl swept through the region yesterday, a spokesperson for the island’s tourism authority said in a statement.
“However, we’re deeply saddened by the widespread damage and news of fatalities on our sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique,” the spokesperson continued. “We are working closely with the emergency services to ensure support and relief efforts are in place as soon as possible, as well as the restoration of vital services.”
Several airports in the eastern Caribbean saw widespread cancelations as Hurricane Beryl blew through.
Beryl may weaken from Category 5 today
14:32 , Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Beryl, which became the earliest recorded Category 5 hurricane overnight, will likely begin to weaken today, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. The storm’s maximum winds are at 165mph this morning.
The hurricane will pass near Hispaniola today, bringing storm surge and up to six inches of rain.
However, it will remain a major hurricane as it passes by Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday.
Beryl will weaken more after Thursday, the NWS forecasts, but will still remain a major hurricane as it makes its way to the northwestern Caribbean.
Hurricane Beryl fueled by warm ocean temperatures amid climate crisis
14:00 , Katie Hawkinson
Record-warm ocean temperatures gave Hurricane Beryl the strength to grow from a tropical depression to a Category 4 storm in a matter of days.
“Beryl is rewriting the history books in all the wrong ways,” Eric Blake, senior hurricane specialist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), said.
While natural weather patterns like La Nina can help drive catastrophic storms like Hurricane Beryl, the human-driven climate crisis still plays a role, as oceans absorb more than 90 percent of excess heat produced by greenhouse gases.
High water temperatures can contribute to sea level rise and hurt marine life in addition to fueling strong storms like Hurricane Beryl. Ocean temperatures will likely continue to rise even if we curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to NOAA.
Hurricane Beryl will travel through the Caribbean Sea towards the Yucatan Peninsula this week.
Officials received “widespread reports of destruction and devastation in Carriacou and Petite Martinique,” after the hurricane made landfall on Monday, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said.
“In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened,” Mitchell continued.
What Warnings and Watches are in place for Hurricane Beryl
13:56 , Amelia Neath
Hurricane Beryl is expected to bring extreme weather conditions to Jamaica on Wednesday, which has a Hurricane Warning in effect, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) as of Tuesday morning AST.
A ‘Hurricane Warning’ means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, with “preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion,” the NHC defines.
A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, as Beryl is forecast to pass near the Cayman Islands on Thursday.
A ‘Hurricane Watch’ is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, meaning that hurricane conditions are possible within that area.
A Tropical Storm Warning is also in effect for the south coast of the Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque westward to the border with Haiti, the south coast of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Anse d’Hainault .
A ‘Tropical Storm Warning’ means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours, the NHC states.
Utilities such as water and electricity working to be restored in St Vincent and the Grenadines
13:24 , Amelia Neath2
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said on Monday night that authorities are working to restore water and electricity resources in St Vincent and the Grenadines after Hurricane Beryl caused destruction as it barreled through the Caribbean.
Speaking in an address to the nation on Monday, Gonsalves said that VINLEC, the state’s energy utility, was working to bring back power to areas affected.
“VINLEC has a good crew, they have good leadership, they have resources at hand and I have all confidence that they will get back to normalcy as quickly as possible,” he said.
They are “working feverishly, urgently and with great focus to get electricity back in certain places tonight,” he added, especially in important institutions like the hospital.
The Prime Minister also said that personnel from the Water Authority told him that they would work to restore water supplies by Tuesday in the communities that have been cut off or are experiencing problems.
Local reports also state that phone service has been at a minimum, and internet access has been inconsistent since Monday, as well as most private radio stations also going off air.
The government-owned radio station, NBC Radio, is still on air, the St Vincent Times reports.
Watch: Hurricane Beryl brings a storm surge, causing waves to batter southern Barbados
13:00 , Katie Hawkinson
Caribbean islands left without power - including hospitals
12:47 , Amelia Neath
Power outages caused by the catastrophic Category 5 Hurricane Beryl have left many buildings, including hopsitals, without electricity and producing difficulty with communication between different islands.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines, described the wake of Beryl as “immense destruction, pain, suffering” after parts of the islands, including hospitals, have no electricity.
This is due in part to many trees collapsing onto powerlines, but despite the lack of electricity in some areas, Gonsalves urged business owners and government buildings to reopen on Tuesday if possible.
Local authorities are “working feverishly, urgently and with great focus to get electricity in certain places tonight,” the Prime Minister said Monday in his address to the nation.
In Grenada, about 95% of the island has lost power due to Hurricane Beryl, Neila K. Ettienne, press secretary for the office of the prime minister, told CNN on Monday.
Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said on Monday that they were having difficulty assessing the situation on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, where communications were largely down, however, reports did come in of “devastation” on Carriacou Monday afternoon.
Mitchell wrote on social media Tuesday morning asking for essential relief items to be brought to the Grenada Yacht Club for those affected in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, and will depart at 10am after loading contributions.
On Monday, Mitchell said that after a spout of cuts, electricity had been restored in Grenada in areas such as Maurice Bishop International Airport, the General Hospital and St. George’s University, with restoration efforts continuing in all affected areas.
Grenada officials also had to evacuate patients to a lower floor after a hospital roof was damaged in the storm.
Other areas of the Caribbean, such as Barbados, had also reported power outages and flooding in some areas on the island, their US Embassy reported.
When will Hurricane Beryl hit Jamaica?
12:13 , Amelia Neath
Hurricane Beryl has set its sights on Jamaica as it continues to move towards the country after ripping through the Caribbean while intensifying its strength, bringing with it “life-threatening” winds and storm surges.
Hurricane conditions are expected for Jamaica as the hurricane passes near the country on Wednesday, which is currently under a Hurricane Warning, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The weather experts are warning that heavy rainfall and flash flooding will be likely once Hurricane Beryl, the record-breaking storm that has already devastated areas such as Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines, reaches the nation.
“Weakening should begin later today, but Beryl is still expected to be near major hurricane intensity as its moves into the central Caribbean and passes near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday,” the NHC said in an update on Tuesday.
“Additional weakening is expected thereafter, though Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean.”
The NHC says that winds are expected to first reach tropical storm strength early on Wednesday, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous.
Along the immediate coast of Jamaica, storm surges could also raise water levels as much as three to five feet above normal tide levels.
As for rainfall, Beryl is expected to produce a total of four to eight inches of rain, with localized maxima of 12 inches, across Jamaica on Wednesday, which is likely to cause flash flooding.
Beryl evoking memories of the devastating Hurricane Ivan that destroyed areas of Grenada in 2004
11:50 , Amelia Neath
Hurricane Beryl devastated Grenada after Carriacou was described by Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell as having been “flattened” within half an hour after announcing that one person had died.
"We do hope there aren’t any other fatalities or any injuries," he said. "But bear in mind the challenge we have in Carriacou and Petite Martinique."
The last strong hurricane to hit the southeast Caribbean was a storm named Hurricane Ivan that swept across Grenada in 2004, leaving catastrophic destruction in its wake.
Dozens of people were killed in Ivan’s devastation in Grenada after it reached a Category 3 status and sustained maximum winds of around 135 mph as it moved through the region that September.
Twenty years on, Grenada is now facing similar damage and destruction as the nation works to assess damages and provide relief to Carriacou and Petite Martinique, who were left with limited communication after Beryl.
“It was really frightening. It evoked memories of Hurricane Ivan, when you saw the trees swaying and you saw the branches starting to break off,” Terence Marryshow, 71, a doctor in southeastern Grenada told The Washington Post.
“But it didn’t last as long as Hurricane Ivan, and I don’t think it was as devastating as Hurricane Ivan … from what we’ve been able to gather for now.”
90 per cent of homes destroyed on Union Island as St Vincent and the Grenadines assess damage across the nation
11:21 , Amelia Neath
90 per cent of houses across Union Island in St Vincent and the Grenadines have been severely damaged or destroyed, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said in an address to the nation.
Union Island’s airport was also reported to have lost its roof after being blown away in the intense winds.
Elsewhere in the nation, hundreds of other buildings have been severely devastated after Beryl passed through, with Gonsalves saying in the community of Glen on the border between East and West St George, there had been 28 families made homeless as a result, local reports say.
Numerous homes, churches and schools have also suffered roof and other damage in the significant rainfall and heavy winds, which also tore apart trees, the nation’s agency for public information said.
Here is damage seen in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines:
At least one person has died in St Vincent and the Grenadines in wake of Beryl
10:50 , Amelia Neath
At least one death has been reported in St Vincent and the Grenadines after the dangerously strong Hurricane Beryl passed over the region.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves announced the death on Monday evening, saying that the hurricane had “left in its wake immense destruction, pain, suffering, across our nation at this hour.”
Around 90 per cent of the homes on the nation’s Union Island have been left damaged or destroyed, Gonsalves said.
Hundreds of other homes and buildings, including churches, schools, and government buildings across St. Vincent, have also been left with substantial damage as the hurricane churned over the region.
“Tomorrow, we get up with our commitment and conviction to rebuild our lives and our families’ lives,” Gonsalves said Monday night.
He added that there could be more fatalities, but the government was unsure at that time.
Many communities have been cut-off by their power as a result of the storm, which first responders will be trying to restore along with clearing debris from the roadways once conditions are safe, the Prime Minister said.
White House says President Biden are monitoring Hurricane Beryl
10:31 , Amelia Neath
President Joe Biden and his team say they are closely monitoring the intensified Hurricane Beryl, and are in contact with territory and local officials.
The White House says that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have resources and supplies that are ‘pre-staged’ in the region, with staff and partners ready to assist.
They added that the President stands ready to support the people of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the region as needed, and will work to ensure the safety of all US citizens in the region.
The President is also urging residents to pay attention to the warnings of local officials.
Beryl has sustained winds of 165mph as it strengthened into a Category 5 storm on Monday.
Hurricane Beryl is now the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic
10:03 , Amelia Neath
Hurricane Beryl has now beaten two historic records in the Atlantic as it continued to strengthen with winds sustained over 160mph.
Beryl now becomes the earliest Category 5 hurricane recorded in the Atlantic after it strengthened late on Monday, the National Hurricane Center has said.
The previous title was held by Hurricane Emily, who reached Category 5 on July 16, 2005.
Beryl was also named the earliest-ever Category 4 hurricane as it approached the eastern Caribbean over the weekend, as well as the only Category 4 in the month of June.
In this category, Beryl beat Hurricane Dennis, which became a Category 4 storm on July 8, 2005.
World Cup-winning Indian cricket team stranded in Barbados as Hurricane Beryl barrels in
10:00 , Katie Hawkinson
Cup 2024 final on Saturday, is stuck in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl.
The Category 4 hurricane passed through Barbados early Monday morning, bringing high winds and storm surge. Officials had evacuated 400 people to hurricane shelters in Barbados Sunday, CNN reports.
The hurricane then made landfall on nearby Carriacou Island late Monday morning, bringing “catastrophic” 150mph winds and “life-threatening storm surge” to the Windward Islands, according to the National Weather Service. The hurricane is approaching Category 5 status as it rages through the eastern Caribbean.
Read more:
Hurricane Beryl strands World Cup-winning Indian cricket team in Barbados
How the hot water that fueled Hurricane Beryl foretells a scary storm season
09:30 , Stuti Mishra
Hurricane Beryl's explosive growth into an unprecedented early whopper of a storm shows the literal hot water the Atlantic and Caribbean are in right now and the kind of season they can expect, experts said.
“Beryl is unprecedentedly strange,” said Weather Underground co-founder Jeff Masters, a former government hurricane meteorologist who flew into storms. “It is so far outside the climatology that you look at it and you say, ‘How did this happen in June?’”
Read the full story:
How the hot water that fueled Hurricane Beryl foretells a scary storm season
X labelled AccuWeather’s Hurricane Beryl map as misinformation
09:00 , Stuti Mishra
AccuWeather meteorologists say X labeled their projected Hurricane Beryl path as “false information” but allowed other obvious misinformation on the site - a decision that could cost lives.
Read the full story from Katie Hawkinson.
Hurricane Beryl update: AccuWeather says X is allowing misinformation on site
Drone footage shows devastation wrought in Carriacou, Grenada, after Hurricane Beryl
08:30 , Stuti Mishra
Life-threatening Hurricane Beryl seen from space as Jamaica braces for Category 5 impact
08:00 , Stuti Mishra
Life-threatening Hurricane Beryl seen from space as Caribbean braces for impact
Hurricane Beryl beats several records
07:30 , Stuti Mishra
Beryl was named the earliest-ever Category 4 hurricane as it approached the eastern Caribbean over the weekend. Hurricane Beryl is also the first major hurricane to reach east of the Lesser Antilles in June.
Meanwhile, record-high ocean temperatures helped the storm grow from a tropical depression to Category 4 over the weekend.
Hurricane Beryl 'still intensifying' as Jamaica under warning
07:17 , Stuti Mishra
Hurricane Beryl, a category 5 storm, is "still intensifying", the National Hurricane Centre said in its latest advisory.
The storm is expected to bring "life-threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica" with the island put under hurricane warning.
Heavy rainfall and flash flooding are possible in portions of Jamaica on Wednesday.
A tropical storm warning is also in effect in Hispaniola.
In pictures: Hurricane Beryl wreaks havoc on Bridgetown, Barbados
06:30 , Stuti Mishra
One dead in Grenada as Hurricane Beryl 'flattens' Carriacou
06:00 , Stuti Mishra
Hurricane Beryl brought deadly conditions to the Grenadine Islands, Carriacou Island and Grenada on Monday, killing at least one person.
Grenada's prime minister Dickon Mitchell said one person had died and he could not yet say if there were other fatalities.
"We do hope there aren't any other fatalities or any injuries," he said. "But bear in mind the challenge we have in Carriacou and Petite Martinique."
Authorities have not yet been able to assess the situation on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, where there were initial reports of major damage but communications were largely down, he said.
Mr Mitchel added that the government will send people first thing on Tuesday morning to evaluate the situation on the islands.
Beryl made landfall in the Windward Islands as a category 4 storm, the earliest storm on record to reach that intensity.
Officials say they received “widespread reports of destruction".
Streets from St. Lucia island south to Grenada were strewn with shoes, trees, downed power lines and other debris.
“In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened," Mr Mitchell said.
Hurricane Beryl intensifies to 'potentially catastrophic' category 5 as it heads towards Jamaica
05:17 , Stuti Mishra
Hurricane Beryl intensified to a category 5 storm after making landfall in the Windward Islands as it churned towards Jamaica.
The hurricane was located about 840miles (1,355km) east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, packing maximum sustained winds of 160mph (260km/h), the National Hurricane Centre said.
Beryl is now only the second storm on record to reach the intensity of category 5 in July, after Emily did so in 2005.
The storm is expected to remain a major hurricane as it moves through the Caribbean.
“Fluctuations in strength are likely during the next day or so, but Beryl is expected to still be near major hurricane intensity as it moves into the central Caribbean and passes near Jamaica on Wednesday, the National Hurricane Centre said.
Hurricane #Beryl Advisory 14: 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. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 2, 2024
See it: Major airport hit with delays, cancelations during Hurricane Beryl
05:01 , Katie Hawkinson
Flights were delayed and canceled at the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and Tobago as Hurricane Beryl raged through the eastern Caribbean, leaving travelers stranded on Monday afternoon.
Watch as Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in the southeast Caribbean
04:00 , Katie Hawkinson
See it: Mesovortices spin in the eye of Hurricane Beryl
03:00 , Katie Hawkinson
An extraordinary view of the mesovortices within Hurricane Beryl's eye.
Beryl has made landfall on Carriacou Island with 150 mph winds. pic.twitter.com/WgiQJrEbci— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) July 1, 2024
Computer models show one possible path for Hurricane Beryl hitting US
02:00 , Katie Hawkinson
A computer model of Hurricane Beryl’s many possible paths, known as a “spaghetti” model, shows the destructive Category 4 storm could hit the southeastern US in the coming days.
The model shows the storm potentially blowing into the Gulf Coast, near eastern Texas and Louisiana. However, meteorologists will not be able to make a definitive call about Hurricane Beryl’s potential impact on the US until it is much closer. This could take several days.
Residents in the Gulf Coast region should check with their local National Weather Service office for up-to-date weather information.
Hurricane Beryl ‘even stronger’ as it moves Caribbean
01:31 , Graeme Massie
NOAA hurricane hunters said that the hurricane is moving “quickly across the southeastern Caribbean” in its 8pm EST update on Monday.
Beryl is moving WNW at 21mph, with top speeds of up to 155mph.
Hurricane warning issued for Jamaica as NOAA gives latest details on Beryl
01:11 , Graeme Massie
The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica as Beryl continues to barrel across the Caribbean.
The warning came in the 8pm update on the storm.
Watch: Hurricane Beryl brings a storm surge, causing waves to batter southern Barbados
01:00 , Katie Hawkinson
X labeled AccuWeather’s Hurricane Beryl map as misinformation. Meteorologists worry it could cost lives
Tuesday 2 July 2024 00:00 , Katie Hawkinson
AccuWeather meteorologists say X labeled their projected Hurricane Beryl path as “false information” but allowed other obvious misinformation on the site - a decision that could cost lives.
On Thursday, AccuWeather posted a forecast for the eastern Caribbean system that would become Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall on Carriacou Island late Monday morning as a Category 4 storm. “1st hurricane of 2024 may track through the Caribbean next week,” the post said, accompanied by a map charting the storm’s path.
AccuWeather has a team of 100 meteorologists who rely on data from NOAA, NASA, the National Hurricane Center and the World Meteorological Organization to inform their forecasts.
The forecasting company beat every other agency by almost 30 hours with a prediction nearly identical to the National Hurricane Center’s, according to John Porter, senior vice president and chief meteorologist for AccuWeather.
However, X users labeled it with a community note.
Read more:
Hurricane Beryl update: AccuWeather says X is allowing misinformation on site
Hurricane Beryl fueled by warm ocean temperatures amid climate crisis
Monday 1 July 2024 23:00 , Katie Hawkinson
Record-warm ocean temperatures gave Hurricane Beryl the strength to grow from a tropical depression to a Category 4 storm in a matter of days.
“Beryl is rewriting the history books in all the wrong ways,” Eric Blake, senior hurricane specialist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), said.
While natural weather patterns like La Nina can help drive catastrophic storms, the human-driven climate crisis still plays a role, as oceans absorb more than 90 percent of excess heat produced by greenhouse gases.
High water temperatures can contribute to sea level rise and hurt marine life in addition to fueling strong storms like Hurricane Beryl. Ocean temperatures will likely continue to rise even if we curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to NOAA.
Hurricane Beryl will travel through the Caribbean Sea towards the Yucatan Peninsula this week.
Officials received “widespread reports of destruction and devastation in Carriacou and Petite Martinique,” after the hurricane made landfall on Monday, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said.
“In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened,” Mitchell continued.
Carriacou Island ‘flattened’ by Hurricane Beryl
Monday 1 July 2024 22:27 , Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Beryl made landfall on Carriacou Island this morning, bringing heavy destruction to the eastern Caribbean.
Officials received “widespread reports of destruction and devastation in Carriacou and Petite Martinique,” Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said on Monday. “In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened.”
“You have to appreciate the ferocity and the strength of the hurricane and therefore we are not yet out of the woods,” he continued. “And we are not able to say for sure that no one has been injured or there has been no loss of life as a result of the hurricane.”
The Category 4 storm is set to head west this week and could maintain its strength as it travels, the National Weather Service forecasts.
In pictures: Hurricane Beryl wreaks havoc on Bridgetown, Barbados
Monday 1 July 2024 21:37 , Katie Hawkinson
Watch: Hurricane Beryl brings a storm surge, causing waves to batter southern Barbados
Monday 1 July 2024 21:00 , Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane warning ends in Barbados
Monday 1 July 2024 20:30 , Katie Hawkinson
Barbados is no longer under a hurricane warning as Beryl moves through the Windward Islands.
The National Weather Service has now placed Jamaica under a hurricane watch, while Martinique and St. Lucia are under tropical storm warnings.
Watch: Hurricane Beryl batters Caribbean homes as Category 4 storm makes landfall
Monday 1 July 2024 20:15 , Katie Hawkinson
Watch: Hurricane Beryl batters Caribbean homes as Category 4 storm makes landfall
Hurricane Beryl beats records over weekend
Monday 1 July 2024 20:00 , Katie Hawkinson
Beryl was named the earliest-ever Category 4 hurricane as it approached the eastern Caribbean over the weekend. Hurricane Beryl is also the first major hurricane to reach this far east in the month of June.
Meanwhile, record-high ocean temperatures helped the storm grow from a tropical depression to Category 4 over the weekend.
The life-threatening storm made landfall on Carriacou Island late Monday morning, bringing 150mph winds as it rages across the Windward Islands.
Beryl “is rewriting the history books in all the wrong ways,” said Eric Blake, senior hurricane specialist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
See it: Major airport hit with delays, cancelations amid Hurricane Beryl
Monday 1 July 2024 19:30 , Katie Hawkinson
Flights are being delayed and canceled at the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and Tobago as Hurricane Beryl rages through the eastern Caribbean, leaving travelers stranded.
Video: Caribbean braces for record-breaking Hurricane Beryl
Monday 1 July 2024 19:12 , Katie Hawkinson
World Cup-winning Indian cricket team stranded in Barbados as Hurricane Beryl barrels in
Monday 1 July 2024 18:48 , Katie Hawkinson
The Indian men’s cricket team, which celebrated their win at the T20 World Cup 2024 final on Saturday, are stuck in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl.
Read more from The Independent’s Shahana Yasmin:
Hurricane Beryl strands World Cup-winning Indian cricket team in Barbados
Hurricane Beryl fueled by warm ocean temperatures amid climate crisis
Monday 1 July 2024 18:37 , Katie Hawkinson
Record-warm ocean temperatures gave Hurricane Beryl the strength to grow from a tropical depression to a Category 4 storm in a matter of days.
“Beryl is rewriting the history books in all the wrong ways,” Eric Blake, senior hurricane specialist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), said.
While natural weather patterns like La Nina can help drive catastrophic storms, the human-driven climate crisis still plays a role, as oceans absorb more than 90 percent of excess heat produced by greenhouse gases.
High water temperatures can contribute to sea level rise and hurt marine life in addition to fueling strong storms like Hurricane Beryl. Ocean temperatures will likely continue to rise even if we curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to NOAA.
See it: Mesovortices spin in the eye of Hurricane Beryl
Monday 1 July 2024 18:30 , Katie Hawkinson
An extraordinary view of the mesovortices within Hurricane Beryl's eye.
Beryl has made landfall on Carriacou Island with 150 mph winds. pic.twitter.com/WgiQJrEbci— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) July 1, 2024
Hurricane Beryl approaches threshold for Category 5, meteorologist says
Monday 1 July 2024 18:15 , Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Beryl is approaching Category 5 status as it brings 150 mph winds and a storm surge of nine feet to the Windward Islands, meteorologist Matthew Cappucci said.
The storm made landfall on Carriacou Island late Monday morning. Now, Hurricane Beryl is blowing through several islands in the eastern Caribbean, bringing “life-threatening” conditions, according to the National Weather Service.
Right now: Carriacou, Grenada is fully in the eye of #HurricaneBeryl.
They likely just experienced Category 4 winds, with gusts in the 130 to 150 mph range briefly. A storm surge of 4 to 9 feet may have accompanied the storm.
It's teetering on the brink of Category 5 status. pic.twitter.com/T3mrpsLo2X— Matthew Cappucci (@MatthewCappucci) July 1, 2024
Watch: Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in the southeast Caribbean
Monday 1 July 2024 18:00 , Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Beryl to move towards Yucatan Peninsula this week
Monday 1 July 2024 17:45 , Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Beryl will move east towards the Yucatan Peninsula over the next several days, National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said on Monday morning.
The storm has the potential to remain a powerful hurricane as it travels across the Caribbean Sea, Brennan said.
The Windward Islands will face life-threatening conditions from the storm until Monday evening.
SEE IT: Lightning flashes in Hurricane Beryl’s eye wall
Monday 1 July 2024 17:34 , Katie Hawkinson
A remarkable hi-res view of abundant lightning flashes within Hurricane Beryl's eye wall. pic.twitter.com/1XqCLMRQno
— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) July 1, 2024
Video: Hurricane Beryl brings storm surge to southern Barbados coast
Monday 1 July 2024 17:15 , Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Beryl brought a dangerous storm surge — that is, a rise in sea levels — to the southern Barbados coast on Monday morning.
Barbados’ south coast endures storm surge as #HurricaneBeryl passes, while Tobago, Grenada and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines brace for further impact.
📹 : UNICEFECA/2024 pic.twitter.com/Zx5P522TEK— UNICEF Eastern Caribbean (@UNICEFECA) July 1, 2024
The Category 4 hurricane then made landfall on Carriacou Island late Monday morning, bringing 150 mph sustained winds.
Hurricane Beryl brings ‘catastrophic’ winds and ‘life-threatening’ conditions to several islands
Monday 1 July 2024 16:58 , Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Beryl is bringing catastrophic winds and life-threatening storm surge to the Grenadine Islands, Carriacou Island and Grenada, the National Weather Service said.
1200 PM AST Jul 1 Position Update: Extremely dangerous #Beryl is producing catastrophic winds and life-threatening storm surge in the southern Windward Islands. For the latest information visit https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/xgMxdNrd5W
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 1, 2024
The storm’s maximum sustained winds increased to 150 mph earlier this morning as it made landfall on Carriacou Island.
In pictures: Hurricane Beryl brings ‘life-threatening’ winds and flooding
Monday 1 July 2024 16:44 , Katie Hawkinson
Satellite imagery shows Hurricane Beryl making landfall
Monday 1 July 2024 16:35 , Katie Hawkinson
Life-threatening Hurricane Beryl seen from space as Caribbean braces for Category 4 impact
Monday 1 July 2024 16:05 , Katie Hawkinson
Life-threatening Hurricane Beryl seen from space as Caribbean braces for impact
Hurricane Beryl beats several records
Monday 1 July 2024 15:52 , Katie Hawkinson
Beryl was named the earliest-ever Category 4 hurricane as it approached the eastern Caribbean over the weekend. Hurricane Beryl is also the first major hurricane to reach this far east in the month of June.
Meanwhile, record-high ocean temperatures helped the storm grow from a tropical depression to Category 4 over the weekend.
The life-threatening storm is expected to make landfall within the next hour.
“Residents in the Grenadine Islands and Carriacou Island should not leave their shelter as winds will rapidly increase within the eyewall of Beryl,” the National Hurricane Center said. “Remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions and do not venture out in the eye of the storm.”
Hurricane Beryl making landfall within next two hours
Monday 1 July 2024 15:36 , Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Beryl is approaching the Windward Islands and will make landfall within the next hour or two, the National Hurricane Center said.
“This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation,” the National Hurricane Center posted. “Take action now to protect your life!”
Residents of the Grenadine Islands and Carriacou Island should stay inside as winds rapidly increase, according to the center.
Hurricane Beryl fueled by warm ocean temperatures amid climate crisis
Monday 1 July 2024 15:25 , Katie Hawkinson
Record-warm ocean temperatures gave Hurricane Beryl the strength to grow from a tropical depression to a Category 4 storm in a matter of days.
“Beryl is rewriting the history books in all the wrong ways,” Eric Blake, senior hurricane specialist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), said.
The human-driven climate crisis plays a role in these rising temperatures. Oceans absorb more than 90 percent of excess heat produced by greenhouse gases, according to NOAA.
High ocean temperatures, in addition to fueling storms like Hurricane Beryl, can contribute to sea level rise and hurt marine life.
Ocean temperatures will likely continue to rise even if we curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to NOAA.
In pictures: Communities brace for Hurricane Beryl
Monday 1 July 2024 15:09 , Katie Hawkinson
Communities in the eastern Caribbean rushed to complete preparations this weekend as Hurricane Beryl grew from a tropical depression to a Category 4 in a few days.
Mapped: Hurricane Beryl’s path
Monday 1 July 2024 14:58 , Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Beryl, now strengthened to Category 4, is set to bring “potentially catastrophic hurricane-force winds, a life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves” to the Windward Islands this morning.
The hurricane is set to move west throughout the week.
