"Extremely dangerous" hurricane "Beryl" approaches Jamaica
After reaching the highest hurricane strength 5 on Tuesday, "Beryl" weakened slightly. Meteorologists downgraded the hurricane to strength 4, but warned it was still "extremely dangerous." They urged caution against life-threatening winds, flooding, storm surges, and heavy rainfall.
In Jamaica, emergency shelters were prepared, residents secured their homes and brought boats ashore. Premier Holness urged people to stockpile food and water supplies and keep important documents ready, according to an online service X.
A hurricane warning was also in effect for the Cayman Islands, where "Beryl" was expected to arrive late Tuesday or early Thursday. In the Dominican Republic, high waves crashed against the shore as the storm passed south of the country.
At least seven people had died as a result of the hurricane in Grenada, Venezuela, and the Caribbean country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines since Monday. The Grenadian island of Carriacou was nearly cut off from the outside world due to a collapsed telephone network.
"Beryl" is the first hurricane since records began to reach strength 4 in June. Additionally, no storm has ever reached hurricane category 5 so early in the year. The temperature of the ocean surface is crucial for hurricane formation. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the water temperature in the North Atlantic is between one and three degrees Celsius warmer than normal. NOAA anticipates an "exceptional" hurricane season with up to seven storms of category 3 or higher.
Due to climate change, the number and intensity of extreme weather events are increasing. UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell warned, looking at "Beryl," that natural disasters with "record-breaking destructive power" were becoming "meteorological facts," and climate change is the main culprit. "Disasters that were once the stuff of science fiction films are now meteorological realities," Stiell stated.
- Despite weakening from a Category 5 to a Category 4 storm, Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness still advised residents to take precautions, urging them to prepare food and water supplies, secure important documents, and seek shelter if necessary.
- The Hurricane Center issued a Hurricane Warning for the Caribbean country of Jamaica, with "Beryl" expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and potential flooding to the region.
- While "Beryl" weakened before reaching the Cayman Islands, meteorologists in the region advised inhabitants to take the storm seriously, citing its "extreme" danger level and potential for life-threatening conditions.
- Furthermore, Grenada and the Cayman Islands have not experienced such hurricane intensity since records began, raising concerns about the impact of climate change on extreme weather events in the Caribbean region.
- In neighboring countries, including the Cayman Islands, Grenada, and Jamaica, governments are collaborating to address the urgent need for climate change adaptation measures in the Caribbean region, seeking to mitigate the impact of natural disasters and safeguard the well-being of their citizens.
