Hurricane Beryl Strengthens to Category 5 in Record Time, Devastating the Southeastern Caribbean

Hurricane Beryl intensified to a Category 5 storm late Monday, causing extensive damage across the southeastern Caribbean. The hurricane ripped through homes, tearing off doors, windows, and roofs with its powerful winds and storm surge, fueled by unprecedented warmth in the Atlantic.

Impact on Grenada and Surrounding Islands

Beryl made landfall on Carriacou in Grenada as the earliest Category 4 storm in Atlantic history. By the end of the day, the National Hurricane Center reported that Beryl had strengthened to Category 5. The hurricane is expected to fluctuate in strength and weaken significantly in the coming days as it moves deeper into the Caribbean.

Grenada’s Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell, reported one fatality but mentioned that a full assessment of the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique was pending due to communication breakdowns. “We hope there are no further casualties,” Mitchell stated, highlighting the difficulties in accessing the affected areas.

Scenes of Destruction

Debris, including shoes, trees, and downed power lines, littered the streets from St. Lucia to Grenada. Agricultural losses were significant, with banana trees snapped and livestock killed. In Bridgetown, Barbados, local shop owner Vichelle Clark King described the scene as heartbreaking after her shop was flooded with sand and water.

Beryl’s Path and Forecast

As of early Tuesday, Beryl was moving west-northwest at 22 mph (35 kph) with winds reaching 165 mph (270 kph). The storm was about 445 miles (715 kilometers) east-southeast of Isla Beata in the Dominican Republic. A hurricane warning was issued for Jamaica, and a tropical storm warning for the southern coast of Hispaniola.

Beryl is expected to maintain near major hurricane strength as it approaches Jamaica by Wednesday, with significant weakening anticipated thereafter.

Beryl’s rapid intensification from a tropical depression to a major hurricane within 42 hours is rare, with only six other Atlantic hurricanes achieving this feat. It surpassed Hurricane Dennis from 2005 as the earliest Category 4 hurricane, and it became the earliest Category 5 hurricane recorded in the Atlantic.

According to experts, Beryl’s strength is attributed to unusually warm ocean temperatures, which are typically seen during the peak hurricane season in September.

Government Response and Community Impact

In Grenada, officials reported widespread devastation in Carriacou and other islands. The national disaster coordinator, Terence Walters, confirmed significant storm surge and damage. The government evacuated patients to lower floors of hospitals due to roof damage.

Barbados’ Minister of Home Affairs, Wilfred Abrahams, announced that drones would assess the damage swiftly once Beryl had passed. The hurricane disrupted travel plans for many, including cricket fans stranded in Barbados after flights were canceled.

Future Outlook

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted an above-average hurricane season for 2024, with expectations of 17 to 25 named storms, including up to 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes. This forecast is higher than the average Atlantic hurricane season, which typically sees 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, and Beryl is the second named storm this season, following Tropical Storm Alberto earlier in the month.