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Hurricane Beryl strengthened to a Category 1 status on Saturday, setting a course for the southeast Caribbean. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center have predicted it will become a major hurricane, a classification for storms of Category 3 or above, characterized by winds of at least 111 mph, by the time it nears Barbados and the Windward Islands by late Sunday or early Monday.
As of Saturday night, Beryl was located approximately 595 miles southeast of Barbados, boasting maximum sustained winds of 85 mph and moving westward at a speed of 20 mph. The National Hurricane Center anticipates significant intensification within the next 24 to 48 hours.
The hurricane’s projected path places it about 26 miles south of Barbados, as noted by Sabu Best, who heads the island’s meteorological department. In preparation, hurricane warnings have been issued for Barbados, St.
Lucia, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Additionally, Martinique and Tobago are under tropical storm warnings, with a tropical storm watch for Dominica, signaling the potential for “life-threatening winds and storm surge” as early as Sunday night.
This year marks over half a century since the Atlantic basin witnessed a pre-July 4th hurricane, with Hurricane Alma in 1966 being the last recorded instance. Michael Lowry, a hurricane expert based in Florida, expressed his astonishment at Beryl’s rapid organization and emergence over record-warm Atlantic waters for this time of year.
Beryl represents the second named storm of what is expected to be an active hurricane season, extending from June 1 to November 30. Just last week, Tropical Storm Alberto caused significant flooding and led to at least four fatalities in southern Texas and northeastern Mexico.
Experts highlight Beryl’s unique formation, being the furthest east a hurricane has developed in June, a record only shared with one other occurrence in 1933. Factors like unprecedented ocean heat content are believed to be fuelling Beryl’s strength and early formation.
In Barbados, where cricket fans gathered for the Twenty20 World Cup final, Prime Minister Mia Mottley urged readiness for the storm. Some visitors, including a physician from Pittsburgh, sought to leave the island before Beryl’s arrival.
Similarly, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves announced the opening of shelters and called for extended hours for essential services in anticipation of the storm.
Despite the emergence of Beryl and a recent no-name storm that drenched South Florida, local residents like hostel manager Mark Spence remain unphased, emphasizing the unpredictability and perennial nature of storm season in the Caribbean.
The National Hurricane Center’s forecast underscores Beryl’s rarity in its timing and intensity, in a season that NOAA predicts will be above average in activity, potentially bringing 17 to 25 named storms, including 8 to 13 hurricanes and 4 to 7 major hurricanes.