Hurricane Beryl has escalated to a powerful Category 4 storm as it sweeps across the southeastern Caribbean, posing a significant threat to Jamaica. The storm, which has already caused extensive damage including fallen electric wires and sunken streets on various Caribbean islands, continues to gain strength.
The hurricane is predicted to bring heavy rainfall that may cause flash floods, particularly in Barbados and the Windward Islands before approaching Jamaica by Wednesday.
Here’s what you need to know about Hurricane Beryl.
What is the current status of Hurricane Beryl?
Beryl is currently a 155 mph (250 km/h) hurricane at category 4. As it heads west-northwest at 21 mph, tropical storm warnings are expected for parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. By Wednesday it should approach Jamaica without losing intensity.
What regions are currently under threat from Beryl?
Jamaica issued a hurricane warning while the Dominican Republic and Haiti have tropical storm watches in effect. Storms are expect in Barbados, Windward Islands, and other parts of southeast Caribbean including torrential rain and gale force winds
What damage has Beryl already caused?
In Bridgetown Barbados streets were flooded; St Vincent lost rooftops of buildings as well as power outages while Grenada experienced blackout with doors, windows roofs blown off many houses around there due to stormed impact.
How are local residents reacting to the hurricane?
There are some people like Welton Anderson who works as waiter in Kingston saying that “Jamaicans wait until the last minute. The night before or in the morning it starts panicking”. But across affected areas preparations are being make with boarding up windows, stocking supplies and filling vehicles with gas.
What are preparations in Mexico for arrival of Beryl?
Mexican officials have warned of extreme caution ahead of whatever impact they expect from Beryle later this week. This government is evaluating earlier flood damages among other things emphasizing that rivers can rise from saturated basins
What role does climate change play in the intensity of Hurricane Beryl?
Climate change is responsible for Beryl’s unusually early formation and rapid intensification. Warmer Atlantic waters have contributed to the storm’s strength. “Climate change is loading the dice for more intense hurricanes to form,” said Christopher Rozoff, an atmospheric scientist.
What are experts predicting for this year’s hurricane season?
The forecasters predict that this year will be mark by an unusually active hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts up to 25 named storms, of which 13 may evolve into hurricanes.
How do past hurricanes compare to Beryl?
Beryl has broken records as it is the earliest Category 4 storm ever record on the Atlantic basin. In breaking Hurricane Dennis records since 2005, Beryl becomes a special case among recent detrimental events in that area.
