As government authorities urged residents to seek shelter, Hurricane Beryl intensified into a Category 4 hurricane that scientists deemed "extremely dangerous" and closed in on the southern Caribbean late on Sunday. On monday morning, the storm was predicted to land in the Windward Islands. barbados, St. Lucia, grenada, Tobago, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines were all under a hurricane warning.
The US National Hurricane Centre in Miami issued a warning, stating that Beryl was "forecast to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge." "This is a very dangerous situation," they said.
The US National Hurricane Centre in Miami issued a warning, stating that Beryl was "forecast to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge." "This is a very dangerous situation," they said.
On sunday night, Beryl was located around 200 miles (320 km) southeast of Barbados. It was travelling 30 kph in a west-northwest direction with maximum sustained winds of 215 kph. With winds of hurricane force reaching 340 km out from its core, it is a compact storm.
Martinique and Trinidad were under a tropical storm warning. A tropical storm watch was issued for the whole southern coast of Haiti, Dominica, and the Dominican Republic, extending westward from Punta Palenque to the data-border with Haiti.
Early on monday, Beryl is predicted to move just south of barbados before making her way towards jamaica over the Caribbean sea as a powerful hurricane. While moving towards Mexico, it was predicted to continue as a hurricane even though it would diminish by midweek.
Martinique and Trinidad were under a tropical storm warning. A tropical storm watch was issued for the whole southern coast of Haiti, Dominica, and the Dominican Republic, extending westward from Punta Palenque to the data-border with Haiti.
Early on monday, Beryl is predicted to move just south of barbados before making her way towards jamaica over the Caribbean sea as a powerful hurricane. While moving towards Mexico, it was predicted to continue as a hurricane even though it would diminish by midweek.
HISTORIC HURRICANE
According to Colorado State university hurricane expert Philip Klotzbach, Beryl began as a Category 3 storm on sunday morning and became the first significant hurricane on record for june east of the Lesser Antilles.
Hurricane researcher sam Lillo noted that Beryl strengthened from a tropical depression to a major hurricane in under 42 hours, a feat only six other times in Atlantic hurricane history had been completed by the earliest date of september 1.
Hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry reported that Beryl then gathered further strength and became the first-ever Category 4 Atlantic hurricane on record, surpassing Hurricane Dennis, which attained Category 4 status on July 8, 2005.
Hurricane researcher sam Lillo noted that Beryl strengthened from a tropical depression to a major hurricane in under 42 hours, a feat only six other times in Atlantic hurricane history had been completed by the earliest date of september 1.
Hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry reported that Beryl then gathered further strength and became the first-ever Category 4 Atlantic hurricane on record, surpassing Hurricane Dennis, which attained Category 4 status on July 8, 2005.
In a phone conversation, Lowry stated, "Beryl is an extremely dangerous and rare hurricane for this time of year in this area." "To put it mildly, unusual." Even though Beryl isn't even close to land, it is already a record storm.
The latest powerful hurricane to strike the Southeast Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan in 2004, a Category 3 storm that left grenada devastated.
Lowry stated of Beryl, "so this is a serious threat, a very serious threat."
Grenada native Reecia Marshall was working a sunday shift at a nearby hotel, setting up guests and telling them to avoid the windows while she made sure there was enough food and water for everyone.
The latest powerful hurricane to strike the Southeast Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan in 2004, a Category 3 storm that left grenada devastated.
Lowry stated of Beryl, "so this is a serious threat, a very serious threat."
Grenada native Reecia Marshall was working a sunday shift at a nearby hotel, setting up guests and telling them to avoid the windows while she made sure there was enough food and water for everyone.