Windward Islands on alert as Beryl advances

Residents across the Caribbean are bracing for Hurricane Beryl’s impact, with expectations of three to six inches of rain, hurricane-force winds, and dangerous storm surges.

Swells generated by Beryl are likely to create hazardous surf and rip currents, further adding to the storm’s threat.

Beryl is intensifying as it nears the Windward Islands, threatening significant damage and life-threatening conditions.

A hurricane warning is currently in effect for Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Tobago. Martinique and Trinidad are under tropical storm warnings, while Dominica and parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic are under tropical storm watches.

According to the BVI Department of Disaster Management (DDM), as of 5 o’clock this morning, Beryl’s eye was located at latitude 11.7 North, longitude 59.9 West, moving westward at 20 mph. This motion is expected to continue, with Beryl’s centre forecasted to cross the Windward Islands this morning and progress through the southeastern and central Caribbean Sea by late today through Wednesday.

Beryl’s maximum sustained winds remain near 120 mph, classifying it as a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. While some fluctuations in strength are likely over the next day, Beryl is expected to maintain its status as an extremely dangerous major hurricane as it moves through the Windward Islands into the eastern Caribbean. Some weakening is anticipated in the central Caribbean by midweek, but Beryl is forecasted to remain a hurricane.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the centre, with tropical storm-force winds reaching up to 125 miles. The Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados recently reported sustained winds of 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph.

The hurricane’s arrival marks an early and intense start to the 2024 hurricane season. Beryl’s rapid intensification to a Category 4 hurricane on Sunday set a new record for the earliest storm of such strength, surpassing Hurricane Dennis in 2005. Although downgraded slightly, Beryl remains formidable and is poised to cause significant damage.

Hurricanes in the Atlantic are increasingly likely to escalate quickly from weak storms to major hurricanes, as evidenced by Beryl’s rapid intensification. Residents in the region are urged to prepare for the impending severe weather as Beryl continues its westward path.