First hurricane of the season in the Atlantic

Storm - First hurricane of the season in the Atlantic

The first hurricane of the Atlantic season has intensified into a Category 3 storm. "Life-threatening winds and storm surges" are expected in parts of the Windward Islands - a part of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean - for early Monday, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

For the islands of Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Tobago, a hurricane warning is in effect. "Beryl" has developed from a tropical storm into a Category 1 hurricane.

The center of the hurricane is currently 675 kilometers east of Barbados. "Beryl" currently has wind speeds of 185 kilometers per hour, and further rapid intensification is expected. The NOAA predicts that it will become an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane before it reaches the Windward Islands.

Hurricane season could be particularly active

The hurricane season over the Atlantic is expected to be particularly active this year, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Factors contributing to this include above-average water temperatures in the Atlantic and the anticipated onset of "La Niña," a phase of cooler water temperatures in the Pacific.

Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean water. The increasing Earth temperature raises the likelihood of strong storms. A hurricane is defined as a storm with wind speeds of 119 kilometers per hour or more. The hurricane season begins in the Pacific on May 15 and in the Atlantic on June 1. It ends in both regions on November 30.

The strength of hurricanes is measured according to a scale developed by meteorologists Herbert Saffir and Robert Simpson: A hurricane of Category 1 reaches wind speeds of up to 153 kilometers per hour. Category 2 applies up to 177 kilometers per hour, Category 3 up to 208 kilometers per hour, and Category 4 up to 251 kilometers per hour. Catastrophic damage threatens from a Category 5 hurricane, which rotates with wind speeds exceeding 251 kilometers per hour. Hurricanes often gain strength as they move over the sea but lose power quickly when they reach land due to the lack of a supply of warm, moist air masses.

1. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, located in the Caribbean, is one of the islands under a hurricane warning.
2. The Pacific hurricane season also starts on May 15, coinciding with the Atlantic season that begins on June 1.
3. The upcoming storm, named "Beryl," is currently intensifying in the Atlantic and is expected to impact parts of the Caribbean.
4. The Pacific, like the Atlantic, can also experience hurricane activity during the storm season, influenced by factors such as ocean temperatures and phases like "La Niña."
5. The tropical cyclone forming over warm ocean water can develop into a storm as potent as "Beryl," with wind speeds reaching Category 5 hurricane levels in extreme cases.
6. The capital city of Barbados, Bridgetown, is also at risk of experiencing storm surge and strong winds during the approaching hurricane.
7. According to the NOAA, Tobago, an island in the Lesser Antilles, also falls within the Atlantic hurricane season's path.
8. The hurricane season in the Caribbean's tropics can pose a threat to several islands, including Grenada, which was previously impacted by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and other parts of the Antilles.
9. The Pacific Ocean, consisting of vast tropical regions, is also vulnerable to powerful storms during the hurricane season, much like the Atlantic and Caribbean.

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