Hurricane Beryl, advancing with full force and promising significant damage to Caribbean islands, including Cuba, has reached Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. A reconnaissance plane from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the United States found that Beryl has strengthened, presenting an "extremely dangerous" condition with maximum winds of 130 mph.
"Potentially strong winds and storm surges are expected in the Windward Islands starting early Monday morning," stated the U.S. entity in a statement posted on the social network X. This Saturday, Beryl reached hurricane status with the forecast to intensify progressively.
Hurricane Alerts and Preparations
Hurricane alerts have been activated in Barbados, Saint Lucia, Grenada, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, while a tropical storm warning has been issued in Martinique and Trinidad and Tobago. The Institute of Meteorology of Cuba (INSMET) is closely monitoring the evolution and trajectory of this cyclonic event, despite the NHC's projected path moving it slightly away from Cuba. It is expected to lose strength south of Cuba and make landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula.
However, after learning that Beryl had become a hurricane, INSMET issued a Tropical Cyclone Warning, indicating that the movement of this cyclonic system in the next 12 to 24 hours "should continue near the west-northwest, intensifying further before reaching the Lesser Antilles arc." They also announced that "the next INSMET advisory on this system will be issued at six in the evening on Sunday."
Meteorologist Eric Fisher has commented on Beryl, calling it a premature hurricane for this time of the season. "We received our first hurricane in the Atlantic six weeks earlier than average and the farthest east recorded at such an early stage of the season," he noted from X.
Beryl is the first hurricane of a season that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States predicts to be more active than usual in the Atlantic, with the possibility of up to 13 hurricanes, of which up to seven could be of great intensity.
FAQs About Hurricane Beryl
Here are some commonly asked questions and answers about Hurricane Beryl, its impact, and preparations.
What is the current strength of Hurricane Beryl?
Hurricane Beryl has intensified to a Category 4, with maximum winds reaching 130 mph.
Which areas are under hurricane alerts?
Hurricane alerts have been activated in Barbados, Saint Lucia, Grenada, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for Martinique and Trinidad and Tobago.
What is the expected path of Hurricane Beryl?
The NHC projects that Beryl will move west-northwest, potentially intensifying further before reaching the Lesser Antilles arc. It is expected to lose strength south of Cuba and make landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula.
How early is Hurricane Beryl in the season?
Meteorologist Eric Fisher noted that Beryl is a premature hurricane for this time of the season, arriving six weeks earlier than average and the farthest east recorded at such an early stage.