Hurricane Beryl has been upgraded to a Category 5 storm in the eastern Caribbean Sea, the US National Weather Center (NHC) announced today. One man is dead.
The typhoon is located about 850 miles (1,355 km) east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, with sustained winds of 165 mph (260 km/h), the NHC added.
Its intensity also marks the second time an Atlantic hurricane has reached Category 5 strength in July, following a similar event on July 17, 2005 with Hurricane Emily, according to the National Hurricane Center.
“Variations in gust strength are possible during the next day, but Beryl is expected to strengthen into a hurricane as it moves into the central Caribbean and passes near Jamaica on Wednesday,” the NHC said.
With information from CNN, APE-MPE