Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season, has intensified into a “very dangerous” Category 3 storm on Sunday morning, posing potential life-threatening winds and storm surge for the southeast Caribbean, as per US forecasters.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Beryl, currently located about 420 miles (675 kilometers) east of Barbados in the Atlantic Ocean, is rapidly gaining strength this Sunday morning.
“The storm has now reached Category 3 hurricane status,” warned the NHC, anticipating the storm’s eye to pass over the Windward Islands, consisting of islands like Martinique, Saint Lucia, and Grenada, early Monday morning.
Beryl is forecasted to continue intensifying and could become an “extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane” by the time it reaches the Caribbean communities.
In Bridgetown, Barbados, residents are preparing for the storm by stocking up on supplies, boarding up their homes, and waiting in long lines at gas stations and stores.
Hurricane warnings are in effect for Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Tobago, while tropical storm warnings or watches have been issued for Martinique and Dominica, according to the latest NHC advisory.
– Devastating wind damage –
A Category 3 hurricane or higher is classified as a major hurricane, with Category 4 storms having sustained winds of at least 130 miles per hour. Beryl currently has maximum sustained winds near 115 mph, posing risks of life-threatening winds and storm surge in the Windward Islands.
The NHC warned of “devastating wind damage” as Beryl’s eyewall passes through the islands, potentially bringing winds that are significantly stronger than forecasted.
Experts noted the rarity of such a powerful storm forming early in the Atlantic hurricane season, with Beryl being the sixth major hurricane recorded before the first week of July and the earliest so far east in the tropical Atlantic.
The NHC cautioned that hurricane conditions are expected to begin in the warning area early Monday, bringing heavy rain, flooding, and storm surge that could raise water levels up to nine feet above normal.
The NOAA anticipated an “extraordinary” hurricane season this year, citing warm Atlantic ocean temperatures and La Nina conditions in the Pacific as factors leading to an increase in Category 3 or higher storms.
Climate change has been linked to the rise in frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including hurricanes, in recent years.
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