Historic Hurricane Beryl, a Category 5 Storm, Threatens
Jamaica with Life-Threatening Conditions
Hurricane Beryl, a historic Category 5 storm, is currently
ravaging the Caribbean, setting records as the earliest such storm in the
Atlantic. After devastating the southeastern Caribbean, it now poses a severe
threat to Jamaica with life-threatening winds and storm surges expected.
On Tuesday, Beryl's center moved rapidly across the
southeastern and central Caribbean Sea and is projected to approach Jamaica by
Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Although some
weakening is anticipated, Beryl is still expected to maintain significant
hurricane strength near Jamaica and the Cayman Islands later in the week.
Beryl first made landfall on Carriacou in Grenada as a
Category 4 hurricane, before intensifying to Category 5 with winds surpassing
157 mph. This makes Beryl not only the earliest Category 5 hurricane recorded
in the Atlantic basin but also the second such storm in July since 2005.
Grenada's Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell, confirmed one
fatality, though full assessments of the damage on Carriacou and Petite
Martinique are pending due to communication breakdowns. Government teams were
dispatched on Tuesday to evaluate the impact.
From St. Lucia to Grenada, the aftermath is visible with
streets littered with debris, downed power lines, and significant damage to
agriculture and infrastructure. As of Tuesday morning, Beryl was positioned 300
miles southeast of Isla Beata in the Dominican Republic and 625 miles
east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, advancing at 22 mph.
A hurricane warning has been issued for Jamaica, and a
hurricane watch for the Cayman Islands. Additionally, a tropical storm warning
is in effect for parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The NHC has
strongly advised residents in these areas to stay indoors and avoid the eye of
the storm.
Beryl's rapid intensification is noteworthy, having
transformed from a tropical depression to a major hurricane in just 42 hours—an
event rare in Atlantic hurricane history. According to hurricane expert Sam
Lillo, such rapid strengthening has only been observed six other times.
Michael Lowry, a hurricane specialist, emphasized Beryl’s
rarity and potential danger, noting its unprecedented nature for this time and
region. The last comparable hurricane, Ivan in 2004, caused catastrophic damage
in Grenada as a Category 3 storm.
Beryl is the second named storm of a forecasted active
hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. It follows Tropical
Storm Alberto, which recently caused severe flooding and fatalities in southern
Texas and northeastern Mexico.
Meteorologist David Parkinson of CBS News highlighted
Beryl’s unique formation far east in June, a phenomenon last seen in 1933.
While Beryl is expected to remain south of Jamaica, its potential impacts on
the U.S. are still uncertain.
The storm's intensity is fueled by record-high ocean heat
content in the deep Atlantic, as noted by Brian McNoldy from the University of
Miami. Forecasters warn of a life-threatening storm surge of up to 9 feet in
affected areas and up to 6 inches of rain for Barbados and nearby islands.
