Jamaica braces for Hurricane Beryl as Category 4 storm leaves Grenada with ‘unimaginable’ damage: Live

Hurricane Beryl is barreling toward Jamaica as a Category 4 storm, prompting curfew and disaster warnings, after charting a deadly path through Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Grenada was left with “unimaginable” destruction, prime minister Dickon Mitchell said after the storm destroyed buildings and left several people dead.

“We have to rebuild from the ground up,” he told the media after visiting the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

Officials said about 98 per cent of the buildings on the islands, home to 6,000 people, had been damaged or destroyed.

Four people have been confirmed dead in the region and three in Venezuela, taking the death toll to seven.

Beryl intensified to the earliest Category 5 storm recorded in the Atlantic overnight before weakening back to Category 4 on Tuesday.

Ahead of Beryl’s arrival, Jamaica has been declared a disaster area and a curfew has been imposed on Wednesday.

The storm will likely maintain its strength as it reaches Jamaica but it is expected to weaken afterwards. However, meteorologists have raised concerns about “increasing risk” to the US if it remains strong as it could potentially move north impacting Texas, Louisiana and New Orleans.

Key Points

• Hurricane Beryl tracker: When will storm hit Jamaica?

• Mapped: Hurricane Beryl’s path

• Spaghetti models show potential for Hurricane Beryl to hit Texas

• Death toll from Hurricane Beryl rises to 7

• Jamaica declared 'disaster area' ahead of Hurricane Beryl

Southern Florida residents evacuate Jamaica ahead of Hurricane Beryl

14:50 , Katie Hawkinson

Hundreds of southern Florida residents evacuated Jamaica this week, heading to Fort Lauderdale ahead of Hurricane Beryl, outlet Local10 reports.

“I couldn’t sleep last night because I didn’t know if I would be able to get out today, but it worked out fine,” Thomas Oliver told the outlet after arriving in Florida on Tuesday.

Norman Manley International Airport closed on Tuesday evening in preparation for the storm, according to the Jamaica Observer.

All preparations are in place to deal with Hurricane Beryl, according to Dana Morris Dixon, Jamaica’s information minister. There are more than 900 shelters across the country and an evacuation process for those in flood-prone and low-lying areas, Dixon said.

Hurricane Beryl on path to Jamaica, Yucatan Peninsula with possibility to hit Texas

14:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl will barrel through Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on Wednesday, the National Weather Service said in their latest forecast.

Then, it will move towards the Yucatan Peninsula and Belize while maintaining its strength. The NWS models show Texas could be in Hurricane Beryl’s path overnight Sunday into Monday.

Hurricane conditions will hit Jamaica at noon local time, the NWS said.

When will Hurricane Beryl reach Jamaica today?

14:21 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane conditions will hit Jamaica around midday, the National Weather Service says, as Beryl approaches the island’s coast.

All preparations are in place to deal with Hurricane Beryl, according to Dana Morris Dixon, Jamaica’s information minister.

There are more than 900 shelters across the country and an evacuation process for those in flood-prone and low-lying areas, Dixon said.

“We know that we’re susceptible to hurricanes... so we’ve been able to put in place a lot of very interesting financial instruments”, she told the BBC World Service.

Dixon added Jamaica has two “buffers” — a catastrophe bond and a disaster fund — that help pay for rebuilding, following a natural disaster like a hurricane.

Watch live as Jamaica braces for Hurricane Beryl as category 4 storm approaches

14:10 , Jabed Ahmed

Alliance of Small Island States issues statement on Hurricane Beryl and climate crisis

14:00 , Katie Hawkinson

The Alliance of Small Island States, an organization designed to create a unified voice for small island nations to address the ongoing climate crisis, issued a statement as Hurricane Beryl races through the Caribbean Sea.

“This monstrous storm is still sweeping through the region and the full extent of the losses and damages are yet to be ascertained,” the organization said in a statement.

“As the people of small island developing states, the growing sense of hopelessness is intensifying,” the statement continued. “For decades we have been straining to ensure the world hears our calls for urgent, increased ambition on climate action.”

Record-warm ocean temperatures gave Hurricane Beryl the strength to grow from a tropical depression to a Category 4 storm in a matter of days. While natural weather patterns like La Nina can help drive catastrophic storms like Hurricane Beryl, the human-driven climate crisis still plays a role, as oceans absorb more than 90 percent of excess heat produced by greenhouse gases.

High water temperatures can contribute to sea level rise and hurt marine life in addition to fueling strong storms like Hurricane Beryl. Ocean temperatures will likely continue to rise even if we curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to NOAA.

Island nations are at the front lines of the climate crisis, given their vulnerability to violent storms and sea-level rise.

“We continue to be sacrificed on the frontlines of a climate crisis we did not cause,” the Alliance of Small Island States statement said. “Our sea temperatures grow warmer, encouraging storms to strengthen at alarming speed and increasing the dire threat to our developing countries. The increased danger is evident for the world to see.”

“If the world does not stand with [Small Island Developing States] now, it is only a matter of time before we are all lost.”

Jamaica’s information minister: ‘Everything in place'

13:50 , Jabed Ahmed

Jamaica’s information minister has said “everything in place to deal with a hurricane of this strength”.

Dana Morris Dixon said there are more than 900 shelters across the country and an evacuation process for those in flood-prone and low-lying areas.

“We know that we’re susceptible to hurricanes... so we’ve been able to put in place a lot of very interesting financial instruments”, she told the BBC World Service.

Ms Dixon added Jamaica has two “buffers” - a catastrophe bond and a disaster fund - that help pay for rebuilding, following a natural disaster like a hurricane.

“In the past, we never really had that, so if a hurricane came, we weren’t really as resilient and able to find the money in order to do the rebuilding exercise.”

Video: Hurricane Beryl tears roof off school as storm rips through Caribbean

13:40 , Jabed Ahmed

Pictured: Residents and tourists in Cancun stock up on supplies

13:30 , Jabed Ahmed

Cruise lines forced to change plans as Hurricane Beryl moves through the Caribbean

13:20 , Jabed Ahmed

Hurricane Beryl diverts several major cruise lines in the Caribbean

Army deployed in Mexico to prepare for Beryl

13:00 , Jabed Ahmed

The US National Hurricane Center has also declared a hurricane watch for Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, dotted with beach resorts popular with tourists.

Ahead of the storm's approach expected Thursday night, Mexico's defense ministry said the army, air force, and national guard had activated emergency response protocols in the three Yucatan states.

Some 120 shelters opened and nearly 4,900 troops on guard on the peninsula.

In resort town of Cancun, supplies of the wooden boards used to protect shop fronts were dwindling as residents prepared for Beryl's arrival.

Watch live as Jamaica braces for Hurricane Beryl as category 4 storm approaches

12:55 , Jabed Ahmed

Watch The Independent’s live stream as Jamaica prepares for Hurricane Beryl:

Pictured: Kingston prepare for Beryl

12:50 , Jabed Ahmed

Residents in Jamaica rush to grab essentials supplies

12:39 , Jabed Ahmed

Residents in Jamaica are preparing for Hurricane Beryl to hit the island.

In the capital Kingston, cars queued at petrol stations as people filled additional containers with fuel. Residents stocked up on water and other essential supplies and boarded up shops and houses.

“Yeah right now we are worrying about the storm. You know it’s Category 5 and in Jamaica people are worried and always shopping and buying things as in this store” Andre, a salesperson in a local store told Reuters.

US National Hurricane Center gives update on storms arrival to Jamaica

12:35 , Jabed Ahmed

Hurricane conditions are expected to reach the coast of Jamaica about midday local time, with tropical storm-strength winds from late morning, the US National Hurricane Center announced.

At 9:00 (GMT), the hurricane was about 185 miles (300 km) east-southeast of the Jamaican capital of Kingston, packing maximum sustained winds of 145 miles per hour (230 kph).

"Beryl is expected to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands Wednesday night and Thursday," NHC said in an advisory.

Satellite imagery shows the destruction of Beryl

12:32 , Jabed Ahmed

Major of Barbados visits badly damaged areas

12:28 , Jabed Ahmed

What causes a hurricane?

12:25 , Jabed Ahmed

In the tropical areas of the world, there is a large zone of low pressure which stretches either side of the equator.

The winds on the north side of this zone blow from the north-east (the north-east trades) and on the southern side blow from the south-east (south-east trades).

In areas of low pressure, the air is heated over the warm tropical ocean. This air rises in small parcels, causing thundery showers to form.

From time to time, they showers group together into large clusters of thunderstorms.

This creates a flow of very warm, moist, rapidly rising air, leading to the development of a centre of low pressure, or depression, at the surface.

There are various trigger mechanisms required to transform these cloud clusters into a tropical storm and eventually into a hurricane.

How do hurricanes get their names?

12:15 , Jabed Ahmed

Various meteorological organisations have responsibility for names of different hurricanes.

Some cycle through a set number of lists starting at “A” each year.

Some continuously cycle through names without reverting to a new list each year and some use a unique list each year.

The names of all tropical storms, hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones and are known in advance.

Hurricane Beryl: Travel advice after storm causes severe damage – with ‘life-threatening’ winds forecast

12:08 , Jabed Ahmed

The Independent’s Travel Correspondent Simon Calder explores what is being done for travellers in the region and what are their options.

Read the full article below:

Hurricane Beryl: Travel advice as ‘life-threatening’ winds forecast

Watch: NOAA plane flies into the eye of Hurricane Beryl

12:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl is the earliest category five storm on record

11:55 , Jabed Ahmed

Hurricane Beryl has become the earliest hurricane on record to develop into a category five storm.

This means its winds and sea surges could prove catastrophic, as warming oceans fuelled destruction across the Caribbean.

Simon Stiell, the head of the UN’s climate change authority, who is from Carriacou, said his homeland had been “hammered by Hurricane Beryl”.

“It’s clear that the climate crisis is pushing disasters to record-breaking new levels of destruction,” he said.

Pictured: latest Hurricane Beryl damage

11:30 , Jabed Ahmed

National Hurricane Center: 'Potential for catastrophic damage'

11:20 , Jabed Ahmed

The director of the United States National Hurricane Center has said Hurricane Beryl could have catastrophic consequences as it passes over Jamaica.

Dr Michael Brennan said: “We we could see the potential, obviously, of the core of a major hurricane moving across Jamaica with the potential for devastating to catastrophic wind damage.”

He further warned of "widespread damage" to homes and infrastructure and a potential storm surge of five to eight feet.

Jamaica’s capital Kingston could see “potentially devastating wave action on top of that storm surge, creating a life-threating situation as well,” Dr Brennan added.

Mapped: Hurricane Beryl powers through Caribbean islands as Category 4 storm

11:10 , Jabed Ahmed

Hurricane Beryl is barreling towards Jamaica as a Category 4 storm after making landfall in the Windward Islands, bringing devastating winds and storm surges that have destroyed homes, wiped out power, and left at least seven people dead.

The storm continues to beat records, first becoming the earliest Category 4 hurricane and later the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic.

Read the full story below to see where Beryl will hit:

Mapped: Hurricane Beryl powers through Caribbean islands as Category 4 storm

Union island residents left homeless

11:00 , Jabed Ahmed

Residents in Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, have been left homeless after their houses were decimated by Hurricane Beryl.

“There are hardly any buildings left standing. Houses are flattened, roads are blocked, the electricity poles are down in the streets,” Katrina Coy, a resident of Union island told the BBC.

She added every building on the island had been destroyed or badly damaged.

Hurricane Beryl named earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic

11:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl has now beaten two historic records in the Atlantic.

Beryl was named the earliest Category 5 hurricane recorded in the Atlantic after it strengthened late on Monday, the National Hurricane Center has said. The previous title was held by Hurricane Emily, who reached Category 5 on July 16, 2005.

Beryl was also named the earliest-ever Category 4 hurricane as it approached the eastern Caribbean over the weekend, as well as the only Category 4 in the month of June.

In this category, Beryl beat Hurricane Dennis, which became a Category 4 storm on July 8, 2005.

The deadly storm weakened back down to a Category 4 on Tuesday afternoon. It is now barreling towards Jamaica, where officials warn residents should rush life-saving protections to completion.

World Central Kitchen delivering aid to destroyed Union Island

10:50 , Jabed Ahmed

Food aid charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) have begun delivering food and water to Union Island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines after it was ravaged by Beryl.

“We are mobilising across the Caribbean to access the hardest hit islands to get some support to the community here that has experienced a Category 4 storm,” a WCK worker said in a video posted on X.

The team was able to deliver water, fruit and sandwiches after arriving on the island by helicopter.

World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres said in a separate post that the organization is delivering aid to multiple islands that were hit by Beryl.

U.N. Climate Change Executive’s home damaged by Beryl

10:40 , Jabed Ahmed

One of the homes that Beryl damaged belongs to the parents of UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, who is from Carriacou, Granada.

The storm also destroyed the home of his late grandmother. In a statement, Stiell said that the climate crisis is worsening, faster than expected. “Whether in my homeland of Carriacou — hammered by Hurricane Beryl, or in the heatwaves and floods crippling communities in some of the world’s largest economies, it’s clear that the climate crisis is pushing disasters to record-breaking new levels of destruction,” he said.

Jamaican prime minister imposes nationwide curfew

10:30 , Jabed Ahmed

With Hurricane Beryl is barreling towards Jamaica, prime minister Andrew Holness has imposed a nationwide curfew from 6am to 6pm.

“This is to ensure the safety of everyone during the passage of the storm and prevent any movement with the intent to carry out criminal activity,” Mr Holness said in a video on Instagram.

The announcement came after Holness declared the whole of Jamaica would be a “disaster area” for the next week after reviewing the storm’s “likely strength and impact.”

Bird’s eye view: Hurricane Beryl, now Category 4, races towards Jamaica

10:30 , Stuti Mishra

Watch: Plane flies into the eye of Hurricane Beryl

10:20 , Jabed Ahmed

Grenada prime minister: ‘complete destruction of homes and buildings'

10:09 , Jabed Ahmed

In a video briefing, Grenada's prime minister, Dickon Mitchell, stressed that Carriacou and Petite Martinique, two of the three islands that make up the country, bore the brunt of the natural disaster, calling the situation "Armageddon-like".

"There is no power. There is almost complete destruction of homes and buildings," he said, citing impassable roads due to downed power lines and destroyed fuel stations crimping supplies.

Mr Mitchell said at least two deaths were attributed to the impact of Beryl so far.

Fallen trees and debris scattered the streets after the storm, which Mitchell said had totally destroyed the mangroves on Carriacou, leaving "literally no vegetation" and destroying the island's agriculture.

Where had Hurricane Beryl been?

10:05 , Jabed Ahmed

Hurricane Beryl has barreled toward Jamaica as the powerful Category 4 storm flattened homes and devastated agriculture on smaller islands in the eastern Caribbean, killing at least three people.

The Caribbean island of Carriacou in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines saw the most severe damage from Beryl.

At least seven people were killed in the two nations and Venezuela.

Damage has also been reported on the island of Petite Martinique and in Barbados.

Watch: Hurricane Beryl brings a storm surge to southern Barbados

10:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl: Meteorologists warn of 'increasing risk' to US

09:30 , Stuti Mishra

Meteorologists from AccuWeather have raised concerns about the growing threat that Hurricane Beryl poses to the Texas Gulf Coast this weekend, even as the storm is expected to weaken as it moves closer.

Beryl, recently downgraded from a Category 5 to a Category 4 storm, is currently bearing down on Jamaica with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph.

While Beryl is expected to weaken due to wind shear as it moves west, if it remains strong, the storm could turn north towards the US and impact areas from the Louisiana coastline south of New Orleans to the Texas coast.

“We’re getting more concerned that the upper-level atmospheric winds that steer a hurricane like Beryl can support a turn to the north this weekend,” said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Forecaster Alex DaSilva.

“If Beryl is torn apart by wind shear over the next few days, it’s more likely to follow the trade winds and move west into Mexico.”

“Unfortunately, we’re more concerned the storm will be a little stronger, which combined with the steering winds, may lead to Beryl moving toward the Texas Gulf Coast.”

Jamaica declared 'disaster area' ahead of Hurricane Beryl

09:11 , Stuti Mishra

The entire island of Jamaica has been declared a ‘disaster area’ ahead of Hurricane Beryl’s arrival.

Prime minister Andrew Holness made the pre-emptive announcement on Tuesday night in an address to the public ahead of the storm’s arrival on Wednesday.

An island-wide curfew will also be in place from 6am to 6pm local time (11am-11pm GMT) on Wednesday.Three airports - Sangster International (Montego Bay), Norman Manley International (Kingston) and Ian Fleming International (Ocho Rios) - were shut down on Tuesday evening and will remain closed through Wednesday.

Jamaica is right on the path of the hurricane which is heading to the island with as a Category 4 storm with 155mph.

Beryl charted a deadly path through Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines, destroying buildings and killing at least seven.

ICYMI: Grenada reopens airport after destructive Hurricane Beryl

08:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Grenada’s Maurice Bishop International Airport reopened Tuesday morning after Hurricane Beryl swept through the region yesterday, a spokesperson for the island’s tourism authority said in a statement.

“However, we’re deeply saddened by the widespread damage and news of fatalities on our sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique,” the spokesperson continued. “We are working closely with the emergency services to ensure support and relief efforts are in place as soon as possible, as well as the restoration of vital services.”

Several airports in the eastern Caribbean saw widespread cancelations as Hurricane Beryl blew through.

Special flight lands in Barbados to evacuate stranded Indian cricket team

07:41 , Stuti Mishra

A special Air India flight has landed in Barbados to evacuate the Indian cricket team which got stranded in the Caribbean due to Hurricane Beryl.

The team, along with coaches and officials from the cricket board, will fly back to India on Wednesday, news agency ANI reported.

The world-cup winners were celebrating their victory when airports shut down on Sunday due to Hurricane Beryl, leaving the the players and officials stranded in Barbados, along with many cricket fans.

Satellite imagery: Hurricane Beryl moves through Caribbean Sea

07:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Death toll from Hurricane Beryl rises to 7

06:21 , Stuti Mishra

Venezuela has announced a third death as the death toll from Hurricane Beryl rises to at least seven people.

Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro announced on Tuesday that the deceased included two men and one woman from the northeastern town of Cumanacoa, in the state of Sucre.

“May they rest in peace, our condolences, and sentiments to their families. I have ordered full support to the families,” Mr Maduro said.

In other regions, four people - one in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and three others in Grenada - died when Beryl tore through the islands on Monday night.

Mr Maduro said four people are still missing and 8,000 homes have been affected, with 400 of them completely destroyed, according to the president.

Video: Hurricane Beryl hits Bridgetown, Barbados

06:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines suffer 'horrendous' damages, prime minister says

05:35 , Stuti Mishra

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have suffered hundreds of millions of dollars worth of "horrendous" damages after Hurricane Beryl, the prime minister said.

"This is a horrific hurricane," said Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to Al Jazeera, adding that houses, schools and health facilities were without electricity and some parts didn't have drinking water

"On the main island of Saint Vincent, we have had substantial damage, horrendous damage but not to the same extent as the devastation in the southern part," he said on Tuesday.

"It could be hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage and loss."

President Biden speaks on extreme weather and climate crisis

05:01 , Katie Hawkinson

As Hurricane Beryl rages through the Caribbean Sea, President Joe Biden spoke on the impacts of the climate crisis.

“Everyone who wilfully denies the impacts of climate change is condemning the American people to a dangerous future, and either is really, really dumb or has some other motive,” Biden said on Tuesday afternoon.

Record-warm ocean temperatures gave Hurricane Beryl the strength to grow from a tropical depression to a Category 4 storm in a matter of days.

While natural weather patterns like La Nina can help drive catastrophic storms like Hurricane Beryl, the human-driven climate crisis still plays a role, as oceans absorb more than 90 percent of excess heat produced by greenhouse gases.

High water temperatures can contribute to sea level rise and hurt marine life in addition to fueling strong storms like Hurricane Beryl. Ocean temperatures will likely continue to rise even if we curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to NOAA.

X labeled AccuWeather’s Hurricane Beryl map as misinformation. Meteorologists worry it could cost lives

04:00 , Katie Hawkinson

AccuWeather meteorologists say X labeled their projected Hurricane Beryl path as “false information” but allowed other obvious misinformation on the site - a decision that could cost lives.

At least six people have died as Hurricane Beryl sweeps through the eastern Caribbean.

Read more:

Hurricane Beryl update: AccuWeather says X is allowing misinformation on site

Video: Hurricane Beryl hits Bridgetown, Barbados

03:00 , Katie Hawkinson

In photos: Devastation in Bequia after Hurricane Beryl

02:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl destroyed homes and knocked out power as it passed through Bequia, the largest island in the Grenadines.

At least one person died on the island because of the storm, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said on Monday. The hurricane also damaged or destroyed 90 percent of homes on the nation’s Union Island.

Hurricane Beryl became earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic

01:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl has now beaten two historic records in the Atlantic.

Beryl was named the earliest Category 5 hurricane recorded in the Atlantic after it strengthened late on Monday, the National Hurricane Center has said. The previous title was held by Hurricane Emily, who reached Category 5 on July 16, 2005.

Beryl was also named the earliest-ever Category 4 hurricane as it approached the eastern Caribbean over the weekend, as well as the only Category 4 in the month of June.

In this category, Beryl beat Hurricane Dennis, which became a Category 4 storm on July 8, 2005.

The deadly storm weakened back down to a Category 4 on Tuesday afternoon. It is now barreling towards Jamaica, where officials warn residents should rush life-saving protections to completion.

Watch: Plane flies into the eye of Hurricane Beryl

Wednesday 3 July 2024 00:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Video: Hurricane Beryl tears roof off school as storm rips through Caribbean

Tuesday 2 July 2024 23:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Life-saving protections in Jamaica should be ‘rushed to completion,’ forecasters warn

Tuesday 2 July 2024 22:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Measures to protect life and property in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands should be “rushed to completion,” the National Weather Service said early Tuesday evening.

“Life-threatening winds and storm surge” will hit Jamaica on Wednesday before moving to the Cayman Islands that evening, the NWS forecasts.

Life-threatening flash flooding will impact Jamaica and southern Hispaniola through Wednesday night.

The NWS said there is still uncertainty about Beryl’s path afterward — however, projections show it could hit southern Texas by the week’s end.

Alliance of Small Island States issues statement on Hurricane Beryl and climate crisis

Tuesday 2 July 2024 22:03 , Katie Hawkinson

The Alliance of Small Island States, an organization designed to create a unified voice for small island nations to address the ongoing climate crisis, issued a statement as Hurricane Beryl races through the Caribbean Sea.

“This monstrous storm is still sweeping through the region and the full extent of the losses and damages are yet to be ascertained,” the organization said in a statement.

“As the people of small island developing states, the growing sense of hopelessness is intensifying,” the statement continued. “For decades we have been straining to ensure the world hears our calls for urgent, increased ambition on climate action.”

Record-warm ocean temperatures gave Hurricane Beryl the strength to grow from a tropical depression to a Category 4 storm in a matter of days. While natural weather patterns like La Nina can help drive catastrophic storms like Hurricane Beryl, the human-driven climate crisis still plays a role, as oceans absorb more than 90 percent of excess heat produced by greenhouse gases.

High water temperatures can contribute to sea level rise and hurt marine life in addition to fueling strong storms like Hurricane Beryl. Ocean temperatures will likely continue to rise even if we curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to NOAA.

Island nations are at the front lines of the climate crisis, given their vulnerability to violent storms and sea-level rise.

“We continue to be sacrificed on the frontlines of a climate crisis we did not cause,” the Alliance of Small Island States statement said. “Our sea temperatures grow warmer, encouraging storms to strengthen at alarming speed and increasing the dire threat to our developing countries. The increased danger is evident for the world to see.”

“If the world does not stand with [Small Island Developing States] now, it is only a matter of time before we are all lost.”

Jamaica residents brace for Hurricane Beryl

Tuesday 2 July 2024 21:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl is on a path to Jamaica, where it will bring “life-threatening” winds and storm surges on Wednesday.

The island is currently under a Hurricane Warning, according to the National Hurricane Center. Now, residents are rushing to grocery stores to stock up on supplies and working to protect their homes.

“I am encouraging all Jamaicans to take the hurricane as a serious threat,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness said late Monday. “It is, however, not a time to panic.”

Jamaican officials are also warning residents in flood-prone areas to prepare for evacuation, the Associated Press reports.

“Weakening should begin later today, but Beryl is still expected to be near major hurricane intensity as it moves into the central Caribbean and passes near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday,” the National Hurricane Center said on Tuesday.

Hurricane Beryl has already killed at least six people after devastating the eastern Caribbean on Monday. St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said that Hurricane Beryl damaged 90 percent of homes on the nation’s Union Island when it blew through on Monday.

Video: NOAA flies into eye of Hurricane Beryl

Tuesday 2 July 2024 21:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl kills at least six people

Tuesday 2 July 2024 20:33 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl’s death toll rose to six this afternoon, the Associated Press reports, after the Category 4 storm devastated the eastern Caribbean.

At least three people were killed in Grenada and Carriacou. One of them died in St. George’s, Grenada’s capital, after a tree fell on their home.

“This hits home,” Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said. “The deceased person is in fact the relative of one of the persons who spent the last 36 hours with us here at the National Emergency Operating Center.”

One person was also killed in St Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said on Monday.

Meanwhile, officials reported two deaths in northern Venezuela, as well as five people missing amid heavy rainfall from the hurricane, the Associated Press reports.

The deadly storm is now barreling towards Jamaica, where it is expected to hit on Wednesday.

Hurricane Beryl weakened to Category 4

Tuesday 2 July 2024 20:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl weakened back down to a Category 4 on Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service (NWS) said, with winds recorded at 155mph.

However, it is just below the Category 5 threshold of 157mph.

The storm will still bring life-threatening conditions to Hispaniola overnight and Jamaica on Wednesday, the NWS said.

See it: Inside the eye of Hurricane Beryl

Tuesday 2 July 2024 19:30 , Katie Hawkinson

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) sent a crew to fly straight into the eye of Hurricane Beryl to collect data for future forecasting and research.

The plane they used, nicknamed “Miss Piggy,” is one of only two aircraft in the world built to specifically fly into the eye of a hurricane, according to the US Air Force.

President Biden speaks on extreme weather and climate crisis

Tuesday 2 July 2024 19:00 , Katie Hawkinson

As Hurricane Beryl rages through the Caribbean Sea, President Joe Biden spoke on the impacts of the climate crisis.

“Everyone who wilfully denies the impacts of climate change is condemning the American people to a dangerous future, and either is really, really dumb or has some other motive,” Biden said on Tuesday afternoon.

Record-warm ocean temperatures gave Hurricane Beryl the strength to grow from a tropical depression to a Category 4 storm in a matter of days.

While natural weather patterns like La Nina can help drive catastrophic storms like Hurricane Beryl, the human-driven climate crisis still plays a role, as oceans absorb more than 90 percent of excess heat produced by greenhouse gases.

High water temperatures can contribute to sea level rise and hurt marine life in addition to fueling strong storms like Hurricane Beryl. Ocean temperatures will likely continue to rise even if we curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to NOAA.

Satellite imagery: Hurricane Beryl moves through Caribbean Sea

Tuesday 2 July 2024 18:15 , Katie Hawkinson

Spaghetti models show potential paths for Hurricane Beryl this week

Tuesday 2 July 2024 17:51 , Katie Hawkinson

Tuesday afternoon spaghetti models show Hurricane Beryl could head directly to the southern tip of Texas over the next several days.

Spaghetti models show the potential paths a storm might take. The more clustered the lines, the more confidence there is in that path. However, the models do not predict storm strength or impact.

Forecasters will be able to make more confident projections as Hurricane Beryl gets closer to the Gulf Coast later this week.

For now, Jamaica and Hispaniola are bracing for the Category 5 storm to pass through their region on Wednesday.

Texas now in Hurricane Beryl’s potential path

Tuesday 2 July 2024 17:34 , Katie Hawkinson

The southern tip of Texas could potentially be hit by Hurricane Beryl in the coming days, according to the latest projections from the National Weather Service.

The hurricane is projected to hit the region on Sunday, but that forecast could change as the eye of the storm travels north in the coming days.

For now, the Category 5 storm is barreling towards Jamaica and Hispaniola, where it will bring dangerous rainfall and storm surge.

The storm has already killed at least two people in the eastern Caribbean. The extreme winds and storm surge devastated homes and infrastructure throughout the region, leaving many without power.

Bird’s eye view: Hurricane Beryl, now Category 5, races towards Jamaica

Tuesday 2 July 2024 17:30 , Katie Hawkinson

In photos: Devastation in Bequia after Hurricane Beryl

Tuesday 2 July 2024 17:01 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl destroyed homes and knocked out power as it passed through Bequia, the largest island in the Grenadines.

At least one person died on the island because of the storm, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said on Monday. The hurricane also damaged or destroyed 90 percent of homes on the nation’s Union Island.

At least two dead after Hurricane Beryl sweeps through eastern Caribbean

Tuesday 2 July 2024 16:30 , Katie Hawkinson

At least two people died after Hurricane Beryl devastated islands in the eastern Caribbean.

One person was killed in St. George’s, Grenada’s capital, after a tree fell on their home.

“This hits home,” Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said. “The deceased person is in fact the relative of one of the persons who spent the last 36 hours with us here at the National Emergency Operating Center.”

Grenada’s Carriacou Island had also been “flattened” within 30 minutes by the devastating storm, Mitchell said.

Another person died in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Monday, according to Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves. Some 90 percent of homes on the nation’s Union Island were damaged or destroyed by the hurricane.

Hurricane Beryl became the earliest recorded Category 5 storm in Atlantic history overnight. On Monday, the hurricane beat the record for the earliest Category 4 storm as well.

X labeled AccuWeather’s Hurricane Beryl map as misinformation. Meteorologists worry it could cost lives

Tuesday 2 July 2024 16:04 , Katie Hawkinson

AccuWeather meteorologists say X labeled their projected Hurricane Beryl path as “false information” but allowed other obvious misinformation on the site - a decision that could cost lives.

At least six people have died as Hurricane Beryl sweeps through the eastern Caribbean.

Read more:

Hurricane Beryl update: AccuWeather says X is allowing misinformation on site

Hurricane Beryl is now the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic

Tuesday 2 July 2024 15:41 , Amelia Neath

Hurricane Beryl has now beaten two historic records in the Atlantic as it continued to strengthen with winds sustained over 160mph.

Beryl now becomes the earliest Category 5 hurricane recorded in the Atlantic after it strengthened late on Monday, the National Hurricane Center has said.

The previous title was held by Hurricane Emily, who reached Category 5 on July 16, 2005.

Beryl was also named the earliest-ever Category 4 hurricane as it approached the eastern Caribbean over the weekend, as well as the only Category 4 in the month of June.

In this category, Beryl beat Hurricane Dennis, which became a Category 4 storm on July 8, 2005.

Jamaica residents brace for Hurricane Beryl

Tuesday 2 July 2024 15:10 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl is on a path to Jamaica, where it will bring “life-threatening” winds and storm surges on Wednesday.

The island is currently under a Hurricane Warning, according to the National Hurricane Center. Now, residents are rushing to grocery stores to stock up on supplies and working to protect their homes.

“Weakening should begin later today, but Beryl is still expected to be near major hurricane intensity as its moves into the central Caribbean and passes near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday,” the National Hurricane Center said on Tuesday.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said that Hurricane Beryl damaged 90 percent of homes on the nation’s Union Island when it blew through on Monday.

White House says President Biden is monitoring Hurricane Beryl

Tuesday 2 July 2024 15:00 , Amelia Neath

President Joe Biden and his team say they are closely monitoring the intensified Hurricane Beryl, and are in contact with territory and local officials.

The White House says that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have resources and supplies that are ‘pre-staged’ in the region, with staff and partners ready to assist.

They added that the President stands ready to support the people of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the region as needed, and will work to ensure the safety of all US citizens in the region.

The President is also urging residents to pay attention to the warnings of local officials.

Beryl has sustained winds of 165mph as it strengthened into a Category 5 storm on Monday.

Grenada reopens airport after destructive Hurricane Beryl

Tuesday 2 July 2024 14:45 , Katie Hawkinson

Grenada’s Maurice Bishop International Airport reopened Tuesday morning after Hurricane Beryl swept through the region yesterday, a spokesperson for the island’s tourism authority said in a statement.

“However, we’re deeply saddened by the widespread damage and news of fatalities on our sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique,” the spokesperson continued. “We are working closely with the emergency services to ensure support and relief efforts are in place as soon as possible, as well as the restoration of vital services.”

Several airports in the eastern Caribbean saw widespread cancelations as Hurricane Beryl blew through.

Beryl may weaken from Category 5 today

Tuesday 2 July 2024 14:32 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl, which became the earliest recorded Category 5 hurricane overnight, will likely begin to weaken today, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. The storm’s maximum winds are at 165mph this morning.

The hurricane will pass near Hispaniola today, bringing storm surge and up to six inches of rain.

However, it will remain a major hurricane as it passes by Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday.

Beryl will weaken more after Thursday, the NWS forecasts, but will still remain a major hurricane as it makes its way to the northwestern Caribbean.

Hurricane Beryl fueled by warm ocean temperatures amid climate crisis

Tuesday 2 July 2024 14:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Record-warm ocean temperatures gave Hurricane Beryl the strength to grow from a tropical depression to a Category 4 storm in a matter of days.

“Beryl is rewriting the history books in all the wrong ways,” Eric Blake, senior hurricane specialist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), said.

While natural weather patterns like La Nina can help drive catastrophic storms like Hurricane Beryl, the human-driven climate crisis still plays a role, as oceans absorb more than 90 percent of excess heat produced by greenhouse gases.

High water temperatures can contribute to sea level rise and hurt marine life in addition to fueling strong storms like Hurricane Beryl. Ocean temperatures will likely continue to rise even if we curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to NOAA.

Hurricane Beryl will travel through the Caribbean Sea towards the Yucatan Peninsula this week.

Officials received “widespread reports of destruction and devastation in Carriacou and Petite Martinique,” after the hurricane made landfall on Monday, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said.

“In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened,” Mitchell continued.

What Warnings and Watches are in place for Hurricane Beryl

Tuesday 2 July 2024 13:56 , Amelia Neath

Hurricane Beryl is expected to bring extreme weather conditions to Jamaica on Wednesday, which has a Hurricane Warning in effect, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) as of Tuesday morning AST.

A ‘Hurricane Warning’ means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, with “preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion,” the NHC defines.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, as Beryl is forecast to pass near the Cayman Islands on Thursday.

A ‘Hurricane Watch’ is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, meaning that hurricane conditions are possible within that area.

A Tropical Storm Warning is also in effect for the south coast of the Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque westward to the border with Haiti, the south coast of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Anse d’Hainault .

A ‘Tropical Storm Warning’ means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours, the NHC states.

Utilities such as water and electricity working to be restored in St Vincent and the Grenadines

Tuesday 2 July 2024 13:24 , Amelia Neath2

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said on Monday night that authorities are working to restore water and electricity resources in St Vincent and the Grenadines after Hurricane Beryl caused destruction as it barreled through the Caribbean.

Speaking in an address to the nation on Monday, Gonsalves said that VINLEC, the state’s energy utility, was working to bring back power to areas affected.

“VINLEC has a good crew, they have good leadership, they have resources at hand and I have all confidence that they will get back to normalcy as quickly as possible,” he said.

They are “working feverishly, urgently and with great focus to get electricity back in certain places tonight,” he added, especially in important institutions like the hospital.

The Prime Minister also said that personnel from the Water Authority told him that they would work to restore water supplies by Tuesday in the communities that have been cut off or are experiencing problems.

Local reports also state that phone service has been at a minimum, and internet access has been inconsistent since Monday, as well as most private radio stations also going off air.

The government-owned radio station, NBC Radio, is still on air, the St Vincent Times reports.

Watch: Hurricane Beryl brings a storm surge, causing waves to batter southern Barbados

Tuesday 2 July 2024 13:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Caribbean islands left without power - including hospitals

Tuesday 2 July 2024 12:47 , Amelia Neath

Power outages caused by the catastrophic Category 5 Hurricane Beryl have left many buildings, including hopsitals, without electricity and producing difficulty with communication between different islands.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines, described the wake of Beryl as “immense destruction, pain, suffering” after parts of the islands, including hospitals, have no electricity.

This is due in part to many trees collapsing onto powerlines, but despite the lack of electricity in some areas, Gonsalves urged business owners and government buildings to reopen on Tuesday if possible.

Local authorities are “working feverishly, urgently and with great focus to get electricity in certain places tonight,” the Prime Minister said Monday in his address to the nation.

In Grenada, about 95% of the island has lost power due to Hurricane Beryl, Neila K. Ettienne, press secretary for the office of the prime minister, told CNN on Monday.

Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said on Monday that they were having difficulty assessing the situation on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, where communications were largely down, however, reports did come in of “devastation” on Carriacou Monday afternoon.

Mitchell wrote on social media Tuesday morning asking for essential relief items to be brought to the Grenada Yacht Club for those affected in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, and will depart at 10am after loading contributions.

On Monday, Mitchell said that after a spout of cuts, electricity had been restored in Grenada in areas such as Maurice Bishop International Airport, the General Hospital and St. George’s University, with restoration efforts continuing in all affected areas.

Grenada officials also had to evacuate patients to a lower floor after a hospital roof was damaged in the storm.

Other areas of the Caribbean, such as Barbados, had also reported power outages and flooding in some areas on the island, their US Embassy reported.

When will Hurricane Beryl hit Jamaica?

Tuesday 2 July 2024 12:13 , Amelia Neath

Hurricane Beryl has set its sights on Jamaica as it continues to move towards the country after ripping through the Caribbean while intensifying its strength, bringing with it “life-threatening” winds and storm surges.

Hurricane conditions are expected for Jamaica as the hurricane passes near the country on Wednesday, which is currently under a Hurricane Warning, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The weather experts are warning that heavy rainfall and flash flooding will be likely once Hurricane Beryl, the record-breaking storm that has already devastated areas such as Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines, reaches the nation.

“Weakening should begin later today, but Beryl is still expected to be near major hurricane intensity as its moves into the central Caribbean and passes near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday,” the NHC said in an update on Tuesday.

“Additional weakening is expected thereafter, though Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean.”

The NHC says that winds are expected to first reach tropical storm strength early on Wednesday, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

Along the immediate coast of Jamaica, storm surges could also raise water levels as much as three to five feet above normal tide levels.

As for rainfall, Beryl is expected to produce a total of four to eight inches of rain, with localized maxima of 12 inches, across Jamaica on Wednesday, which is likely to cause flash flooding.

Beryl evoking memories of the devastating Hurricane Ivan that destroyed areas of Grenada in 2004

Tuesday 2 July 2024 11:50 , Amelia Neath

Hurricane Beryl devastated Grenada after Carriacou was described by Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell as having been “flattened” within half an hour after announcing that one person had died.

"We do hope there aren’t any other fatalities or any injuries," he said. "But bear in mind the challenge we have in Carriacou and Petite Martinique."

The last strong hurricane to hit the southeast Caribbean was a storm named Hurricane Ivan that swept across Grenada in 2004, leaving catastrophic destruction in its wake.

Dozens of people were killed in Ivan’s devastation in Grenada after it reached a Category 3 status and sustained maximum winds of around 135 mph as it moved through the region that September.

Twenty years on, Grenada is now facing similar damage and destruction as the nation works to assess damages and provide relief to Carriacou and Petite Martinique, who were left with limited communication after Beryl.

“It was really frightening. It evoked memories of Hurricane Ivan, when you saw the trees swaying and you saw the branches starting to break off,” Terence Marryshow, 71, a doctor in southeastern Grenada told The Washington Post.

“But it didn’t last as long as Hurricane Ivan, and I don’t think it was as devastating as Hurricane Ivan … from what we’ve been able to gather for now.”

90 per cent of homes destroyed on Union Island as St Vincent and the Grenadines assess damage across the nation

Tuesday 2 July 2024 11:21 , Amelia Neath

90 per cent of houses across Union Island in St Vincent and the Grenadines have been severely damaged or destroyed, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said in an address to the nation.

Union Island’s airport was also reported to have lost its roof after being blown away in the intense winds.

Elsewhere in the nation, hundreds of other buildings have been severely devastated after Beryl passed through, with Gonsalves saying in the community of Glen on the border between East and West St George, there had been 28 families made homeless as a result, local reports say.

Numerous homes, churches and schools have also suffered roof and other damage in the significant rainfall and heavy winds, which also tore apart trees, the nation’s agency for public information said.

Here is damage seen in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines:

At least one person has died in St Vincent and the Grenadines in wake of Beryl

Tuesday 2 July 2024 10:50 , Amelia Neath

At least one death has been reported in St Vincent and the Grenadines after the dangerously strong Hurricane Beryl passed over the region.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves announced the death on Monday evening, saying that the hurricane had “left in its wake immense destruction, pain, suffering, across our nation at this hour.”

Around 90 per cent of the homes on the nation’s Union Island have been left damaged or destroyed, Gonsalves said.

Hundreds of other homes and buildings, including churches, schools, and government buildings across St. Vincent, have also been left with substantial damage as the hurricane churned over the region.

“Tomorrow, we get up with our commitment and conviction to rebuild our lives and our families’ lives,” Gonsalves said Monday night.

He added that there could be more fatalities, but the government was unsure at that time.

Many communities have been cut-off by their power as a result of the storm, which first responders will be trying to restore along with clearing debris from the roadways once conditions are safe, the Prime Minister said.

White House says President Biden are monitoring Hurricane Beryl

Tuesday 2 July 2024 10:31 , Amelia Neath

President Joe Biden and his team say they are closely monitoring the intensified Hurricane Beryl, and are in contact with territory and local officials.

The White House says that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have resources and supplies that are ‘pre-staged’ in the region, with staff and partners ready to assist.

They added that the President stands ready to support the people of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the region as needed, and will work to ensure the safety of all US citizens in the region.

The President is also urging residents to pay attention to the warnings of local officials.

Beryl has sustained winds of 165mph as it strengthened into a Category 5 storm on Monday.

Hurricane Beryl is now the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic

Tuesday 2 July 2024 10:03 , Amelia Neath

Hurricane Beryl has now beaten two historic records in the Atlantic as it continued to strengthen with winds sustained over 160mph.

Beryl now becomes the earliest Category 5 hurricane recorded in the Atlantic after it strengthened late on Monday, the National Hurricane Center has said.

The previous title was held by Hurricane Emily, who reached Category 5 on July 16, 2005.

Beryl was also named the earliest-ever Category 4 hurricane as it approached the eastern Caribbean over the weekend, as well as the only Category 4 in the month of June.

In this category, Beryl beat Hurricane Dennis, which became a Category 4 storm on July 8, 2005.

World Cup-winning Indian cricket team stranded in Barbados as Hurricane Beryl barrels in

Tuesday 2 July 2024 10:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Cup 2024 final on Saturday, is stuck in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl.

The Category 4 hurricane passed through Barbados early Monday morning, bringing high winds and storm surge. Officials had evacuated 400 people to hurricane shelters in Barbados Sunday, CNN reports.

The hurricane then made landfall on nearby Carriacou Island late Monday morning, bringing “catastrophic” 150mph winds and “life-threatening storm surge” to the Windward Islands, according to the National Weather Service. The hurricane is approaching Category 5 status as it rages through the eastern Caribbean.

Read more:

Hurricane Beryl strands World Cup-winning Indian cricket team in Barbados

How the hot water that fueled Hurricane Beryl foretells a scary storm season

Tuesday 2 July 2024 09:30 , Stuti Mishra

Hurricane Beryl's explosive growth into an unprecedented early whopper of a storm shows the literal hot water the Atlantic and Caribbean are in right now and the kind of season they can expect, experts said.

“Beryl is unprecedentedly strange,” said Weather Underground co-founder Jeff Masters, a former government hurricane meteorologist who flew into storms. “It is so far outside the climatology that you look at it and you say, ‘How did this happen in June?’”

Read the full story:

How the hot water that fueled Hurricane Beryl foretells a scary storm season

X labelled AccuWeather’s Hurricane Beryl map as misinformation

Tuesday 2 July 2024 09:00 , Stuti Mishra

AccuWeather meteorologists say X labeled their projected Hurricane Beryl path as “false information” but allowed other obvious misinformation on the site - a decision that could cost lives.

Read the full story from Katie Hawkinson.

Hurricane Beryl update: AccuWeather says X is allowing misinformation on site