Beryl becomes first Hurricane of the season,continues to intensify

Beryl, the first Hurricane of the season, has rapidly intensified from a tropical storm.

Forecasters predict that the storm will continue to strengthen, potentially becoming a major hurricane before it reaches the Windward Islands. 

The National Hurricane Center’s (NHC’s) latest advisory states that Beryl is “expected to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge” to the region.

As of 5pm today, Hurricane Beryl was located approximately 720 miles east-southeast of Barbados. 

It is currently packing maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour and is moving westward at a brisk pace of 22 miles per hour. 

This combination of strength and speed has prompted authorities to issue a series of alerts across the eastern Caribbean.

Barbados now finds itself under a hurricane warning, indicating that hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours. 

The islands of St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada are under hurricane watches, meaning hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours. 

Additionally, tropical storm watches have been issued for Martinique, Dominica, and Tobago, where tropical storm conditions may develop in the coming days.

The NHC emphasizes the importance of these alerts, explaining that a hurricane warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated arrival of tropical-storm-force winds. 

These conditions make outdoor preparations difficult and dangerous, necessitating swift action to protect life and property. 

Similarly, hurricane and tropical storm watches provide a 48-hour window for residents to prepare for potential impacts.