O Hurricane Beryl was considered the strongest hurricane ever in July, breaking the latest in a series of records as it caused widespread devastation in the Caribbean.
The tropical cyclone recorded many records that experts say are linked to climate changeas it developed more rapidly and much earlier in the year than similar events. It is the strongest hurricane on record for both June and July, and recorded the fastest strengthening of any hurricane before September 1—typically the most intense period of the Atlantic season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.
A look at the eye ️ of Hurricane Beryl today. On Monday night, Beryl became the first storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, although it was downgraded to a Category 4 on Tuesday.
For updated forecasts visit https://t.co/96ZlCzpVcZ#hurricaneberyl pic.twitter.com/Dd81YzOuuM
– Hurricane Hunters (@53rdWRS) July 2, 2024
On Monday, Beryl has been declared a Category 5 hurricane — the highest rating on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, which is declared when winds reach 157 miles per hour, according to the website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA.
The influence of global warming
Scientists have warned for years that global warming will cause hurricanes to intensify more quickly due to warmer waters, giving people less time to prepare for their effects.
NOAA had previously forecast an 85% chance of an “above-normal” 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. It predicted the period would see 17 to 25 named storms, compared with an average of 14, along with eight to 13 hurricanes, above the standard average of seven. Four to seven of those are predicted to become major hurricanes, compared with an average of three.
This is partly due to El Nino, a long-term weather pattern that typically increases hurricane activity in the Pacific or Atlantic due to warmer waters. Forecasters predict that a La Niña phase will develop between July and September, characterized by factors including cooler ocean surface temperatures in the Pacific.
Ocean temperatures at record heat levels
From now on, ocean temperatures in the Atlantic basin are today in record heat levels and in May they were closer to the usual August level, according to NOAA.
Jamaica on Wednesday announced an island-wide curfew as Beryl moved towards its coast.
![Hurricane Beryl: “breaks” records after its devastating course through the Caribbean 1 tyfonas beryl](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/tyfonas_beryl.jpg)
At least six people have been killed so faras the typhoon continues to wreak havoc. Three people were killed in Grenada and Carriacou, while another person was killed in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and two victims were reported in northern Venezuela, the Associated Press reported.
Hurricane Beryl broke records as it unleashed its fury on the Windward Islands, leaving behind a trail of destruction unprecedented for this point in the hurricane season. …
See more of Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines: https://t.co/9jQOuTUYtY pic.twitter.com/GZ6An1sdYh
– AccuWeather (@accuweather) July 3, 2024
Jamaica is in a state of emergency
![Hurricane Beryl: “breaks” records after its devastating course through the Caribbean 2 beryl hurricane](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/beryl_hurricane.jpg)
“I hereby declare the whole of Jamaica an emergency area in accordance with section 26 of the Disaster Risk Management Act, for the next seven days”Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said in a videotaped address in the early hours of the morning, declaring an island-wide curfew between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday. He added that the typhoon, which is expected to bring life-threatening winds, storm surges and possible flooding, highlights the impact of climate change.
“While carbon dioxide emissions are negligible, our region is bearing the brunt of the impacts of change,” Holness said.
The tropical cyclone has already passed through the islands of Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines. A resident of the tiny Union Island told the BBC that “almost the entire island is without shelter”. Other residents said there were shortages of food, water, first aid kits and electricity.
With information from CNBC