What is category 4 Hurricane Beryl, which cities will be affected?

Hurricane Beryl intensified into a Category 4 storm as it passed through the Windward Islands, marking the strongest storm in two decades. This dangerous hurricane poses a significant threat to island communities with life-threatening storm surges, violent winds, and flash flooding. Understanding the nature of this powerful storm and its impact is crucial.

What is Category 4 Hurricane Beryl?

Hurricane Beryl, a Category 4 storm, has sustained winds of 130 mph and is about 60 miles east of Grenada. Beryl is moving west-northwest at 20 mph. Its hurricane-force winds extend 35 miles from its center, while tropical-storm-force winds reach about 125 miles. This compact but powerful hurricane is a significant concern for the Caribbean islands.

Beryl's early arrival in the Atlantic hurricane season makes it the earliest recorded Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean and the only one in June. The rapid intensification of Beryl is attributed to unusually warm ocean waters. This indicates a potentially more severe hurricane season due to climate change and fossil fuel pollution.

Which cities will be affected?

Areas are already feeling the effects of Hurricane Beryl. Barbados, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago reported severe weather conditions Monday. The storm poses the highest risk to St. Vincent, the Grenadines, and Grenada. Although a direct landfall may not occur, the storm will still have a devastating impact on these islands.

Hurricane warnings are in effect for Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, Tobago, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Tropical storm warnings have been issued for Martinique and Trinidad, and a tropical storm watch is in place for Dominica, Haiti's southern coast, and the Dominican Republic's southern coast from Punta Palenque to the Haiti border.

Yes, Hurricane Beryl has intensified to a Category 4 hurricane, and yes it could impact the Windward Islands, particularly Barbados, Grenada, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

But the fake news is suggesting that the storm's intensification is “unusually strong”for this… pic.twitter.com/iNEqZeRmK6

— David Pollack (@DavidPollackUSA) July 1, 2024

Barbados, Grenada, and Saint Lucia have closed their airports, and a state of emergency has been declared in Grenada. According to the nation’s Chief Shelter Warden, Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, more than 400 people are in hurricane shelters in Barbados. Cricket fans in Barbados for the T20 World Cup are also affected, unable to evacuate before Beryl’s arrival.

Timeline of Beryl

Sunday Morning: Hurricane Beryl strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane, the first major hurricane east of the Lesser Antilles in June. Then rapidly intensified to a Category 4 storm.

Late Sunday: Beryl was about 150 miles southeast of Barbados, with sustained winds of 130 mph, moving west at 20 mph. A state of emergency was declared in Grenada, and airports in Barbados, Grenada, and Saint Lucia were closed.

Early Monday: Beryl was about 60 miles east of Grenada, impacting Barbados, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago with severe weather. The storm was expected to pass just south of Barbados and head into the Caribbean Sea towards Jamaica.

Midweek Forecast: Beryl is expected to weaken but remain a hurricane as it moves towards Mexico. Life-threatening storm surges and flooding are anticipated, with 3 to 6 inches of rainfall expected in parts of the Windward Islands and Barbados, and up to 10 inches in the Grenadines and Grenada.

Latest on Beryl

Beryl's impact is unprecedented for this early in the hurricane season. It is the earliest major hurricane in the Atlantic in 58 years, and its rapid intensification is unusual for this time of year. The storm has set records for being the easternmost hurricane to form in the Tropical Atlantic in June, surpassing a record set in 1933.

Beryl's early activity, along with Tropical Storm Chris, suggests a hyperactive hurricane season due to warm ocean temperatures, low wind shear, and the El Niño to La Niña transition.