First hurricane of 2024 'Beryl' approaches the Caribbean
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The southeastern Caribbean is on high alert as Hurricane Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season, intensifies and moves toward the region.
Forecasters at the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) have warned that Beryl is expected to become a major storm, posing a significant threat to Caribbean communities.
As of Sunday, Beryl was located approximately 530 miles (850 kilometers) east of Barbados, with the NHC predicting it will bring "life-threatening winds and storm surge" when it reaches the Windward Islands early Monday. The storm is "getting stronger" and is anticipated to become a "dangerous major hurricane."
Hurricane warnings have been issued for Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada. Additionally, tropical storm warnings or watches are in effect for Martinique, Tobago, and Dominica.
In response to the impending hurricane, residents in the Barbadian capital, Bridgetown, were seen lining up at gas stations, and supermarkets were crowded with people stocking up on food, water, and other supplies. Some households have already begun boarding up their homes.
A major hurricane is classified as a Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with winds of at least 111 miles per hour (179 kilometers per hour). Beryl's rapid intensification this early in the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from early June to late November, is highly unusual. Hurricane expert Michael Lowry noted that Beryl could become the sixth and earliest major hurricane to form this far east in the tropical Atlantic.
As of 2:00 am (0600 GMT) Sunday, Beryl's maximum sustained winds had reached nearly 90 mph with higher gusts. The NHC expects hurricane conditions to begin in the warning areas early on Monday, with heavy rain, flooding, and storm surge potentially raising water levels by as much as seven feet (2.1 meters) above normal.
The NHC also warned of "devastating wind damage" where Beryl's eyewall moves through portions of the Windward Islands, indicating that wind speeds could be 30 percent stronger than those listed in their advisory.
The Saffir-Simpson wind scale categorizes hurricanes from Category 1, with wind speeds of at least 74 mph, to Category 5, with winds of 157 mph or higher.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted in late May that the 2024 hurricane season would be "extraordinary," with up to seven storms expected to reach Category 3 or higher. This forecast is based on warm Atlantic ocean temperatures and the influence of La Nina conditions in the Pacific.
Climate change has been linked to the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including hurricanes, making preparedness and timely response more crucial than ever.
