San Juan, Puerto Rico – Beryl has upgraded to a hurricane, heading towards the southeastern Caribbean and anticipated to intensify into a dangerous major storm by the time it reaches Barbados on Sunday night or early Monday. Forecasters issued a hurricane warning for Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, while a tropical storm warning was in effect for Martinique and Tobago, along with a tropical storm watch for Dominica.
Philip Klotzbach from Colorado State University confirmed that Beryl, currently a Category 1 hurricane, has broken a record by forming the farthest east in the tropical Atlantic for the month of June. With winds of at least 80 mph, Beryl is expected to pass just south of Barbados before making its way across the Caribbean towards Jamaica and eventually Mexico. Meteorologists predict rapid strengthening in the coming hours.
Experts attribute Beryl’s rapid intensification to unusually warm waters in the Atlantic, with this month’s heat content being the highest on record. Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley advised residents to take necessary precautions and prepare for the incoming storm, urging businesses to close early. The approaching hurricane coincides with the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup cricket final in Barbados, with fans like Shashank Musku rushing to alter travel plans to avoid the storm.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines also made preparations, opening shelters and extending business hours to ensure residents have necessary supplies. The storm, coming early in the hurricane season, follows a previous weather event that caused flooding in Trinidad and Tobago. In addition to Beryl, Caribbean leaders are monitoring a cluster of thunderstorms with high potential for tropical depression development in the near future.
With Beryl poised to bring heavy rains and strong winds to the region, residents have been advised to stay vigilant and heed official warnings. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an above-average hurricane season, heightening concerns for potential impacts across the Atlantic basin. As the storm inches closer, Barbadians and neighboring islanders brace for the impending weather conditions, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and safety measures.