Alerts were issued for much of the southeast Caribbean on Sunday as Beryl became the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season, with forecasters warning of a dangerous Category 4 storm.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that Beryl, currently located 465 miles east of Barbados in the Atlantic Ocean, was expected to bring strong winds and storm surge to the Windward Islands early Monday, posing a threat to life.
Forecasts indicated that Beryl was rapidly intensifying and could become an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane by the time it made landfall in the Caribbean.
Hurricane warnings were issued for Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada, while tropical storm warnings were in place for Martinique, Tobago, and Dominica, according to the latest NHC advisory.
Residents in Barbados were seen stocking up on supplies and preparing for the storm’s arrival by boarding up their properties as the hurricane approached.
The NHC reported that Beryl had sustained winds of nearly 100 mph with higher gusts by 5:00 am Sunday.
Experts noted that it is rare for such a powerful storm to form early in the Atlantic hurricane season, which typically runs from June to November.
The NHC warned of heavy rain, flooding, and storm surge, with potential water levels rising as much as nine feet above normal in some areas.
The agency also anticipates an active hurricane season, with up to seven storms of Category 3 or higher predicted due to warm Atlantic ocean temperatures and conditions related to La Nina in the Pacific.
Climate change has led to more frequent and devastating extreme weather events, including hurricanes, in recent years.
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