Hurricane Beryl is approaching Category 5 status as it brings deadly conditions to the Grenadine Islands, Carriacou Island and Grenada on Monday.
The Category 4 hurricane made landfall on Monday, hitting the Windward Islands with “catastrophic” 150mph winds and “life-threatening storm surge,” according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Jamaica is now under a hurricane watch while Barbados is no longer under a warning as of Monday afternoon.
Officials received “widespread reports of destruction and devastation in Carriacou and Petite Martinique,” Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said. “In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened.”
Mitchell said he can’t provide information on injuries or deaths as of Monday afternoon.
A computer model of Hurricane Beryl’s many possible paths, known as a “spaghetti” model, shows the destructive Category 4 storm could move toward the southeastern US.
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.
Residents in the Gulf Coast region should check with their local National Weather Service office for up-to-date weather information.
Key Points
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Mapped: Hurricane Beryl’s path
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Hurricane Beryl fueled by warm ocean temperatures amid climate crisis
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Hurricane Beryl brings ‘catastrophic’ winds and ‘life-threatening’ conditions to several islands
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Hurricane Beryl to move towards Yucatan Peninsula this week
Hurricane Beryl fueled by warm ocean temperatures amid climate crisis
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
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
21:37 , Katie Hawkinson
Watch: Hurricane Beryl brings a storm surge, causing waves to batter southern Barbados
21:00 , Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane warning ends in Barbados
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
20:15 , Katie Hawkinson
Watch: Hurricane Beryl batters Caribbean homes as Category 4 storm makes landfall
Hurricane Beryl beats records over weekend
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
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
19:12 , Katie Hawkinson
World Cup-winning Indian cricket team stranded in Barbados as Hurricane Beryl barrels in
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
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
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
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
18:00 , Katie Hawkinson
Hurricane Beryl to move towards Yucatan Peninsula this week
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
17:34 , Katie Hawkinson
Video: Hurricane Beryl brings storm surge to southern Barbados coast
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.
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
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.
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
16:44 , Katie Hawkinson
Satellite imagery shows Hurricane Beryl making landfall
16:35 , Katie Hawkinson
Life-threatening Hurricane Beryl seen from space as Caribbean braces for Category 4 impact
16:05 , Katie Hawkinson
Life-threatening Hurricane Beryl seen from space as Caribbean braces for impact
Hurricane Beryl beats several records
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
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
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
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
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.
