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| In Bridgetown, Barbados, cars are lining up at petrol stations before hurricane Beryl hits |
The major storm is growing in strength as it moves across the Atlantic Ocean towards the Caribbean islands of Barbados, Dominica, Grenada and Martinique, among others.
Across the region, people are boarding up their homes, queuing for fuel at gas stations and stockpiling supplies and water in preparation for the storm.
In an address to the nation on Saturday night, the prime minister of Barbados urged residents to look out for their friends, family and neighbors when the hurricane lands.
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| Head of the arrival of the storm, buildings have been boarded up in Bridgetown, Barbados. |
In a national address on Saturday night, the Prime Minister of Barbados called upon residents to support their friends, family, and neighbors as Hurricane Beryl approaches. The storm, which intensified from a tropical storm on Friday night, now boasts winds of 115 mph and is projected to strengthen further as it approaches the western Caribbean islands.
Forecasters anticipate that by the time Hurricane Beryl reaches the Windward Islands—comprising Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada—it will bring "hurricane-force" winds, a "life-threatening" storm surge, and heavy rainfall. This storm surge and rainfall pose significant risks to the region.
Beryl marks the second named storm of the season following Tropical Storm Alberto, which struck northeast Mexico on June 20, causing heavy rains that resulted in four fatalities.
Barbados' meteorological service has issued alerts for potential power outages and flash flooding, as the eye of the hurricane is forecasted to pass approximately 26 miles (45 km) south of the island. The storm is expected to bring up to six inches (15 cm) of rainfall to several Caribbean islands, including Barbados.
In response to the impending threat, residents in Barbadian capital, Bridgetown, are securing their homes and stocking up on essentials from supermarkets and petrol stations. Prime Minister Mia Motley emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant and taking all necessary precautions for personal safety and community support.
In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves urged supermarkets and petrol stations to extend their operating hours ahead of the hurricane's arrival, announcing the opening of emergency shelters on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, meteorologist Ithoma James in Dominica urged residents to prepare for potentially devastating hurricanes, highlighting the early and active nature of the 2024 hurricane season. Forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have warned of an unusually active season, predicting up to 25 named storms, with between eight to 13 possibly becoming hurricanes. Of these, four to seven storms could intensify into major category three or higher hurricanes.
Hurricane Beryl's early arrival marks a significant event, prompting hurricane experts like Michael Lowry to comment on social media about its rarity and potential impact. Only a handful of category three or higher hurricanes have historically formed in the Atlantic before early July, underscoring the unusual nature of Beryl's development in the deep tropics.
In the 2023 hurricane season, there were 19 named storms, highlighting the variability and unpredictability of hurricane activity in the region from year to year.