5pm AST, 30 June, 2024
Hurricane Beryl has strengthened into an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 130 miles per hour.
The cyclone is barrelling west across the Atlantic Ocean towards the south-eastern Caribbean at a speed of 18mph and is expected to make its first landfall on Monday morning.
Hurricane-force winds are extending up to 30 miles from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.
The second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season is likely to bring potentially catastrophic hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surges and damaging waves, along with heavy rainfall.
Hurricane warnings are in effect for Barbados, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Tobago where residents should to rush to complete preparations to protect life and property.
Meanwhile, Martinique is under a tropical storm warning and Dominica, Trinidad, the south coast of the Dominican Republic and the south coast of Haiti are under tropical storm watches.
While the storm is not expected to directly impact Montserrat, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is advising islands in the Lesser Antilles to closely monitor the progress of the storm.
Quickly evolving
In an NHC forecast published at 5pm this evening, 30 June, the centre said winds are expected to reach 145mph in the next 12 hours, making Beryl an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm.
“Fluctuations in strength are common in major hurricanes in conducive environments, and it is expected that Beryl will also fluctuate in strength for the next day or so,” the forecast said.
“There is high confidence that Beryl will remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through landfall in the Windward Islands.”
It added: “This is a very dangerous situation and residents in these areas should listen to local government and emergency management officials for any preparedness and/or evacuation orders.
“All preparations should be rushed to completion today.”
Forecasters expect potentially catastrophic wind damage where the eye wall passes over land, with wind speeds on the windward sides of hills predicted to be about 30% stronger than lower elevations.
A life-threatening storm surge will raise water levels by as much as nine feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore flow in the hurricane warning areas, the centre said.
Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves, the hurricane centre added.
Beryl is forecast to produce rainfall totals of up to six inches this evening and into Monday. This rainfall may cause flooding in vulnerable areas, the centre said.
Above average
In May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an above normal Atlantic hurricane season. This takes place from June 1 to November 30.
Experts forecast a range of 17 to 25 total named storms with winds of 39 miles per hour or higher. They expect eight to 13 to become hurricanes, with winds of 74 miles per hour or higher.
Of those, they have forecast four to seven to be major hurricanes, of category three, four or five, with winds of 111 miles per hour or higher.
Montserrat’s Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) director Alvin Ryan, in a Facebook video message on 1 June, urged residents to prepare.
“Action now can really help reduce the impacts of storms on our communities, reduce damage to property, and most importantly, save lives, which is the ultimate goal,” he said.
“Remember, it only takes one.”
Information on how to prepare for a hurricane is available in the DMCA’s 2024 Hurricane Preparedness Guide here.
Visit the National Hurricane Center for the latest weather updates at www.nhc.noaa.gov
