Storm - Hurricane "Beryl" moves towards Caribbean islands
The first hurricane of the Atlantic season is moving towards some Caribbean islands in the category 4. "Beryl" is predicted to reach parts of the Windward Islands - a part of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean - as an "extremely dangerous hurricane" in the morning (local time), according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Potentially catastrophic winds, life-threatening storm surges, and destructive waves are expected. Additionally, there is a high risk that the center of the hurricane will pass over St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Tobago. A hurricane warning is in effect for Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Tobago.
"If this hurricane hits us as predicted (...), we will suffer many losses and damages, not only for individual families but also for the country," said the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, in a speech to the nation. "May God guide and protect us all," shared the Prime Minister of St. Lucia, Philip Pierre, on Facebook and declared a national shutdown.
Historical Hurricane
In less than 24 hours, "Beryl" developed from a tropical storm into a Category 4 hurricane with wind speeds of 215 kilometers per hour. "Beryl is now the earliest Atlantic Category 4 hurricane on record, surpassing Hurricane Dennis, which became a Category 4 hurricane on July 8, 2005," explained hurricane and storm surge expert Michael Lowry on the platform X.
The center of the hurricane is currently 320 kilometers southeast of Barbados and 480 kilometers east of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. "This is a very dangerous situation," warned the NOAA. It is expected that it will continue to move towards the Windward Islands over the Caribbean Sea.
Hurricane Season could be stronger than usual this year
The hurricane season over the Atlantic is expected to be stronger than usual this year, according to the assessment of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Reasons include unusually high 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 warming increases the likelihood of strong storms. A hurricane is defined as having 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 of more than 251 kilometers per hour. Hurricanes often gain strength as they move over the sea but lose their power quickly when they move over land due to the lack of a supply of warm, moist air masses.
- Trinidad and Tobago is closely monitoring the path of Hurricane Beryl, given its proximity to the Windward Islands.
- Despite being outside the hurricane season, Tobago is in the potential path of the category 4 storm, as per NOAA's predictions.
- During a hurricane briefing, the Prime Minister of Barbados urged residents to prepare for the approaching storm, citing historical hurricanes that impacted the island nation.
- St. Lucia, another Caribbean island, has also activated its disaster management protocols, recalling the damages caused by Hurricane Allen in 1980.
- In neighboring St. Vincent and the Grenadines, schools and offices have been closed, following the Prime Minister's advice to seek safety as Hurricane Beryl nears.
- Premier Ralph Gonsalves of Grenada expressed concerns about the hurricane's impact, referencing the devastating Hurricane Ivan in 2004, reminding citizens of the urgent need to evacuate vulnerable areas.
- The Antilles are working together to gather resources and coordinate responses, with Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, serving as a hub for relief efforts throughout the Caribbean.
- Steven Roach, a meteorologist, suggested that the Caribbean climate and weather patterns may lead to more intense hurricanes in the region, further emphasizing the importance of preparedness and response.
- Tropical storms like Hurricane Beryl highlight the increased vulnerability of Caribbean islands and the need for stringent climate change actions, as the rising sea levels and warming ocean temperatures exacerbate the frequency and intensity of hurricanes.
- The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises tourists and residents to follow the guidance of local authorities in Trinidad and Tobago, ensuring their safety during the hurricane season in the Atlantic.
