Beryl strengthened into a hurricane on Saturday As it buzzed Forecasters have warned that it will strengthen into a dangerous major hurricane as it moves toward the southeastern Caribbean, before reaching Barbados and the Windward Islands late Sunday or early Monday.
A major hurricane is considered a Type 3 or higher, with sustained winds of at least 111 mph. Currently, Beryl is a Category 1 hurricane.
A hurricane warning was issued for Barbados, and a hurricane watch was in effect for St. Lucia, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, while a tropical storm watch was issued for Martinique, Dominica, and Tobago. Hurricane watches were in effect for Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, while tropical storm watches were issued for Martinique, Dominica, and Tobago. All except Barbados are part of the Windward Islands.
The hurricane center said “life-threatening winds and storm surge” are possible for the Windward Islands beginning Sunday night.
NOAA
It had been more than fifty years since a hurricane had formed in the Atlantic basin before the 4th of July. Alma Hit the Florida Keys According to Weather Underground on June 8, 1966.
“Surprising to see a forecast for a major hurricane anywhere in the Atlantic in June, let alone deep in the tropics to the east. #Beryl is making haste for the warmest waters on record for late June,” Florida-based hurricane expert Michael Lowry posted on social media.
Beryl is the second named storm in what is forecast to be a busy hurricane season that runs from June 1 to November 30 in the Atlantic. Last week, Tropical Storm Alberto was brought Flooding in parts of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. It is responsible for at least four deaths in the Mexican states of Nuevo León and Veracruz.
According to CBS News meteorologist David Parkinson, Beryl was the furthest east of a hurricane to form in June and one of only two to do so east of the Caribbean, the other occurring in 1933.
Parkinson expects Beryl to remain south of Jamaica and predicts any US impacts will be at least eight more days away.
Beryl’s center is forecast to pass about 26 miles south of Barbados, said Sabu Best, director of the island’s meteorological service.
On Saturday night, Beryl was located 660 miles southeast of Barbados, with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. It was moving west at 22 mph.
“Rapid strengthening is now forecast,” the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.
Atmospheric science researcher Tomer Burke called Beryl a tropical depression with winds of 35 mph on Friday.
“This means that according to preliminary data, Beryl has already met the rapid intensification criteria before becoming a hurricane,” he wrote in X.
According to Brian McNoldy, a tropical meteorologist at the University of Miami, warm water fuels the beryl, and the ocean heat in the deep Atlantic is on record for this time of year.
According to Klotzbach, Beryl is the first recorded June tropical storm east of the tropical Atlantic.
“We must be prepared,” Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley said in a public address late Friday. “You and I know when these things happen, it’s best to plan for the worst and pray for the best.”
He noted that thousands of people were in Barbados for the Twenty20 World Cup cricket final, with India beating South Africa on Saturday in the capital Bridgetown. It is considered as the biggest event in cricket.
Some fans, like Shashank Musku, a 33-year-old doctor who lives in Pittsburgh, rushed to change their flights to leave before the storm.
Musk has never experienced a hurricane: “I don’t plan on being in one either.”
Rooting for India, he and his wife found out about Beryl thanks to a taxi driver who mentioned the storm.
Meanwhile, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said in a public address on Saturday that shelters would open Sunday evening as he urged people to prepare. He ordered officials to refuel government vehicles and asked grocery stores and gas stations to stay open ahead of the storm.
“There will be so much urgency … if you have limited hours,” he said, while apologizing earlier for the government’s interruptions to radio stations with storm announcements. “Cricket lovers have to bear with us, we have to give information… it’s life and death.”
Beryl is the second named storm in what is forecast to be a busy hurricane season that runs from June 1 to November 30 in the Atlantic. Earlier this month, Tropical Storm Alberto made landfall in northeastern Mexico with heavy rains, resulting in four deaths.
Lowry noted that only five named storms have formed in the tropical Atlantic east of the Caribbean. Of that, only one hurricane was recorded east of the Caribbean in June.
Mark Spence, manager of a hostel in Barbados, said in a phone interview that he was calm about the approaching storm.
“Tis the season. Storms can hit anytime,” he said. “I’m always ready. There’s always enough food in my house.”
Beryl is expected to see up to six inches of rain in Barbados and nearby islands, and a high surf warning was in effect with waves up to 13 feet. Storm surges of up to seven feet are also forecast.
The storm is approaching the southeastern Caribbean, days after the twin island nation of Trinidad and Tobago reported severe flooding in the capital Port-of-Spain as a result of an unrelated weather event.
Meanwhile, an unnamed storm earlier this June dumped more than 20 inches of rain on parts of South Florida, stranding scores of motorists on flooded streets and pushing water into some homes in low-lying areas.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the first hurricane of the season typically forms in early to mid-August, making it unusual for Beryl to reach hurricane strength. A Report Released last month, NOAA predicted an “above average” hurricane season with 17 to 25 storms, 8 to 13 hurricanes and 4 to 7 major hurricanes and 3 or more categories.
A tropical storm is a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph, while a hurricane is defined A tropical cyclone has maximum sustained winds of 74 mph.
