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Hurricane Beryl has intensified to category 5 storm after making landfall in the Windward Islands as it churned towards Jamaica.
The hurricane was located about 840miles (1,355km) east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, packing maximum sustained winds of 160mph (260km/h), the National Hurricane Centre said.
As the earliest-ever category 4 hurricane, Beryl brought deadly conditions to the Grenadine Islands, Carriacou Island and Grenada on Monday, killing at least one person.
Officials received “widespread reports of destruction and devastation in Carriacou and Petite Martinique,” Grenada prime minister Dickon Mitchell said.
“In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened.”
Mr Mitchell said he could not provide information on injuries or deaths as of Monday afternoon.
A computer model of Hurricane Beryl’s many possible paths, known as a “spaghetti” model, showed the path the destructive storm could take as it moved towards the southeastern US.
The model showed the storm potentially blowing into the Gulf Coast, near eastern Texas and Louisiana. However, meteorologists will not be able to make a definitive call about Hurricane Beryl’s potential impact on the US until it is much closer.
Hurricane Beryl ‘still intensifying’ as Jamaica under warning
Hurricane Beryl, a category 5 storm, is “still intensifying”, the National Hurricane Centre said in its latest advisory.
The storm is expected to bring “life-threatening winds and storm surge to Jamaica” with the island put under hurricane warning.
Heavy rainfall and flash flooding are possible in portions of Jamaica on Wednesday.
A tropical storm warning is also in effect in Hispaniola.
Stuti Mishra2 July 2024 07:17
In pictures: Hurricane Beryl wreaks havoc on Bridgetown, Barbados
Stuti Mishra2 July 2024 06:30
One dead in Grenada as Hurricane Beryl ‘flattens’ Carriacou
Hurricane Beryl brought deadly conditions to the Grenadine Islands, Carriacou Island and Grenada on Monday, killing at least one person.
Grenada’s prime minister Dickon Mitchell said one person had died and he could not yet say if there were other fatalities.
“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.”
Authorities have not yet been able to assess the situation on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, where there were initial reports of major damage but communications were largely down, he said.
Mr Mitchel added that the government will send people first thing on Tuesday morning to evaluate the situation on the islands.
Beryl made landfall in the Windward Islands as a category 4 storm, the earliest storm on record to reach that intensity.
Officials say they received “widespread reports of destruction”.
Streets from St. Lucia island south to Grenada were strewn with shoes, trees, downed power lines and other debris.
“In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened,” Mr Mitchell said.
Stuti Mishra2 July 2024 06:00
Hurricane Beryl intensifies to ‘potentially catastrophic’ category 5 as it heads towards Jamaica
Hurricane Beryl intensified to a category 5 storm after making landfall in the Windward Islands as it churned towards Jamaica.
The hurricane was located about 840miles (1,355km) east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, packing maximum sustained winds of 160mph (260km/h), the National Hurricane Centre said.
Beryl is now only the second storm on record to reach the intensity of category 5 in July, after Emily did so in 2005.
The storm is expected to remain a major hurricane as it moves through the Caribbean.
“Fluctuations in strength are likely during the next day or so, but Beryl is expected to still be near major hurricane intensity as it moves into the…
Read More: Hurricane Beryl intensifies to category 5 storm as it moves towards Jamaica