Hurricane Beryl makes landfall, Caribbean braces for days ahead

According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Beryl has made landfall on Carriacou Island, Grenada.

The hurricane has regained strength over the past few hours, prompting warnings of life-threatening winds and dangerous storm surges.

Hurricane warnings were also issued for Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Tobago.

Earlier, Caribbean residents were urged to seek shelter as potentially devastating storms battered the region, closing airports and businesses.

Dozens of flights were canceled across the region on Sunday night as Beryl approached, with leaders urging the public to heed warnings.

“This is no joke,” said St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, who reminded people of the devastation caused by past hurricanes in the Caribbean.

Addressing the nation from his official residence, Goncalves said he was seeking refuge in the basement.

“The roof, certainly the old part of the roof, probably can’t handle 150 mph (241 km/h) winds. I’m getting ready to go downstairs,” he said.

Beryl’s strength has been fluctuating.

After weakening slightly, the hurricane was upgraded to Category 4 on Monday.

The National Hurricane Center said fluctuations in intensity were likely to continue, but warned that parts of the Windward Islands should prepare for “potentially catastrophic wind damage.”

St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada are at the highest risk of damage, the report said.

Hurricane shelters open at 18:00 local time (22:00 GMT) on Sunday.

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley also urged citizens to remain vigilant.

“We need to be prepared. You and I both know that when these things happen, it’s best to prepare for the worst and hope for the best,” she said.

“Don’t let your guard down,” she added.

Meteorologists said it was unusual for a hurricane of this intensity to form earlier this year.

“Before the first week of July, only five major (Category 3+) hurricanes had been recorded in the Atlantic,” hurricane expert Michael Lowry posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Mr. Lowry wrote: “The beryl would be the sixth and earliest in the far east of the tropical Atlantic.”

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has warned that the North Atlantic could experience as many as seven major hurricanes this year, up from the average of three per season.

Record high sea surface temperatures were partly to blame, the report said.

Meteorologists also commented on the speed of beryl development.

Hurricane expert Sam Lillo told The Associated Press that the storm upgraded from a tropical depression to a major hurricane (Category 3 or above) in just 42 hours.

The warnings were heeded across much of the region.

Shops were closed and people stocked up on fuel and groceries.

Grenada declared a state of emergency and St. Lucia implemented a “national shutdown” and ordered schools and businesses to remain closed.