Hurricane Beryl, a powerful and deadly storm, has been making its way through the Caribbean Sea, leaving destruction in its path. The hurricane transformed from a tropical depression into a hurricane within hours on Saturday morning (Source 1). Michael Lowry, a hurricane expert, described Beryl as an 'extremely dangerous and rare hurricane for this time of year in this area' (Source 1).
As of now, at least six people have lost their lives due to the storm. Three deaths were reported in Grenada and St Vincent (Sources 2 & 3), while multiple fatalities were also reported in Venezuela and Jamaica. Thousands are currently in temporary shelters, with power expected to be out for several more days in much of St Vincent (Source 3).
The hurricane is moving towards Jamaica and is expected to bring 'life-threatening winds and storm surges' (Source 2). The Category 4 storm has sustained wind speeds as high as 150 mph, making it a dangerous force to be reckoned with (Sources 1 & 3).
The National Hurricane Center is closely monitoring the situation and has issued hurricane warnings for parts of Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and other affected areas (Source 2). President Biden has promised assistance to those affected by the storm and outlined new efforts to address extreme heat and hazardous weather (Source 1).
The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be far from normal this year due to record high sea surface temperatures, which have facilitated Hurricane Beryl's intensification (Source 4). This early-season storm is a reminder of the destructive power of hurricanes and the importance of being prepared for such events.
Sources:
- Yahoo News: 'Hurricane Beryl tracker: Storm downgraded to Category 4 as it churns toward Jamaica, leaving multiple dead in its path'
- BBC News Live: 'Hurricane Beryl live updates: Storm moves towards Jamaica'
- CNN Weather Live News: 'Hurricane Beryl churns toward Jamaica after devastating Grenada: Live updates'
- Weather Channel Video: 'See inside the eye of Hurricane Beryl'