Hurricane Beryl, a rapidly intensifying storm, has become the earliest Category 5 hurricane in Atlantic history, wreaking havoc on islands in the southeastern Caribbean. The storm, classified as “potentially catastrophic” by the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), brought maximum sustained winds of 160 miles (260 kilometers) per hour, unleashing torrential rain and destructive gusts.
Carriacou Island in Grenada took a direct hit from Beryl’s “extremely dangerous eyewall,” experiencing sustained winds of over 150 miles. The NHC reports that nearby islands, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, also endured “catastrophic winds and life-threatening storm surge.” “In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened,” stated Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell in a press conference. “We are not yet out of the woods,” he added, noting that while no deaths had been reported so far, the full extent of the damage remains unclear.
Videos captured in St. George’s, Grenada, depict heavy downpours and trees battered by strong gusts. Prime Minister Mitchell announced on social media that the government is working to deliver relief supplies to Carriacou and Petite Martinique on Tuesday. “The state of emergency is still in effect. Remain indoors,” he urged on Facebook.
The formation of a hurricane of Beryl’s magnitude this early in the Atlantic hurricane season (which runs from early June to late November) is highly unusual. It is the first hurricane since NHC records began to reach Category 4 in June and the earliest to reach Category 5 in July. “Only five major (Category 3+) hurricanes have been recorded in the Atlantic before the first week of July,” noted hurricane expert Michael Lowry on X.
Barbados, although spared the worst of the storm, still experienced strong winds and heavy rain. “Barbados seems to have ‘dodged a bullet,’” said Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams, but he cautioned that “gusts are still coming, the storm-force winds are still coming.” Flooding affected homes and businesses in some areas, and fishing boats were damaged in Bridgetown.
The storm led to the cancellation of classes on Monday in several islands, and a CARICOM meeting in Grenada was postponed. Jamaica issued a hurricane warning as the storm is expected to reach the island on Wednesday. The NHC also advised the Cayman Islands and parts of the Yucatan Peninsula to monitor Beryl’s progress.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had predicted an “extraordinary” hurricane season this year, with up to seven storms of Category 3 or higher. NOAA attributed the anticipated increase in storms to warm Atlantic Ocean temperatures and conditions associated with La Niña. The occurrence of extreme weather events, including hurricanes, has become more frequent and devastating in recent years due to climate change.
