Hurricane Beryl, the earliest-ever Category 4 hurricane, made landfall in the Windward Islands, specifically in the Grenadine Islands, Carriacou Island, and Grenada. The storm reached peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, as reported by the National Hurricane Centre. This resulted in fatalities and widespread destruction in Carriacou, leaving authorities yet to assess the situation on the affected islands.
The hurricane moved towards Jamaica, located around 840 miles east-southeast of Kingston, but further developments and potential impact on the US are uncertain. According to a computer model known as a “spaghetti” model, Beryl could potentially blow into the Gulf Coast near eastern Texas and Louisiana; however, meteorologists require the storm to come closer before they can make definitive predictions.
While traveling, individuals encountered delays and cancelations at the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and Tobago as Hurricane Beryl disrupted eastern Caribbean flight operations. Residents in the Gulf Coast region should monitor updates from their local National Weather Service office for any potential warnings related to Hurricane Beryl’s trajectory.
Reports suggest that NOAA hurricane hunters indicated that the storm is moving quickly across the southeastern Caribbean with top speeds of up to 155 mph. Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica. In a concerning move, AccuWeather meteorologists were accused of circulating misinformation by labeling one of their projected Hurricane Beryl paths as “false information.” Although the forecasting company was quick with an accurate prediction, it remains to be seen how such inaccurate labels could influence people’s safety decisions during critical weather events.
