Category 5 Hurricane Beryl Heads for Jamaica After Devastating Caribbean Islands

Powerful Category 5 hurricane Beryl is approaching Jamaica after causing devastation to small Caribbean islands. The storm had maximum winds of 250 kilometers per hour and is located about 1,006km east-southeast of Jamaica’s capital Kingston, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Scientists believe warming ocean temperatures are contributing to the storm’s rapid intensification and unusually early emergence, the first of the Atlantic hurricane season. On Monday, the storm made landfall on Carriacou, part of Grenada. The BBC reported that one person was killed and power was cut across the island.

New deaths were also reported in St. Vincent but Reuters could not immediately confirm this. Beryl was originally a Category 4 hurricane and was expected to cause significant damage and bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica.

The hurricane is expected to move across the southeastern and central Caribbean passing near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday. The NHC warned that Beryl could bring 10 to 30 centimeters of rain to Jamaica and cause flash flooding.

A hurricane warning was issued for Jamaica on Monday and a tropical storm warning was issued for parts of the southern coast of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Residents of several eastern Caribbean islands are preparing for the storm.

They have boarded up windows, stocked up on food and loaded up cars. Maritime traffic has also been disrupted. Dozens of ships in the storm’s path could be affected. Energy cargo tracking data from Vortexa suggests the hurricane caused a detour in the Caribbean.

Beryl’s early timing and rapid intensification have caught the attention of scientists, who attribute these factors to rising ocean temperatures. The storm initially struck the Caribbean as a Category 4 and then intensified to a Category 5 but is expected to weaken later.

According to the NHC, Mexican authorities are also preparing for Beryl’s possible impacts later this week. The federal government called on authorities and the public to use “extreme caution” in preparation for the storm. Hurricane-force winds and heavy rains pose a significant threat to areas in its path, and residents are advised to take all necessary precautions.

Beryl’s track toward Jamaica and other Caribbean regions highlights the potential dangerposed by such strong storms. Beryl’s rapid development and early appearance in the hurricane season highlight the increasing influence of climate factors such as rising ocean temperatures, on storm activity. As the storm continues on its path affected communities are taking serious measures to mitigate the impacts and ensure the safety of their residents.