Authors: Paula Chiomante and José de Jesus Cortez
CANCUN/TULUM, Mexico (Reuters) – Tropical Storm Beryl blew toward the Gulf of Mexico on Friday afternoon and could reach Texas late Sunday after its strong winds and heavy rains largely spared Mexico. Top beach destination.
The storm’s core, downgraded from a hurricane, moved across the Yucatan Peninsula on Friday afternoon, dropping maximum winds to about 65 mph (105 kph) before hitting the coastal beach resort of Tulum in the morning.
The storm intensified into a massive Category 5 hurricane earlier this week, causing deadly damage in the Caribbean. However, there were no casualties in Mexico, Laura Velazquez, the head of Mexico’s civil defense agency, said at a press conference on Friday afternoon.
Although Beryl’s passage through the Mexican states of Quintana Roo and Yucatan weakened winds, the National Hurricane Center still predicted dangerous storm surges in surrounding areas.
Those crouching down felt relief as Beryl tumbled overhead.
“Oh my God! What an experience!” said Juan Ochoa, a Mexican tourist living in Tulum.
“Only some plants actually flew into the air,” he said. “Thank God we’re all OK.”
There was no major damage to Quintana Roo’s tourism infrastructure, the Quintana Roo government said in a statement.
Guillermo Nevarez, an official with Mexico’s state electricity company CFE, said in an interview with local broadcaster Milenio that many areas in the region were still without power, including 40% of Tulum.
Civil Defense Chief Velazquez said she expected services to be fully restored by Sunday.
Among Mexico’s top tourist destinations, the Yucatan Peninsula is known for its white sand beaches, lush landscapes and Mayan ruins.
Stranded tourists camped out at Cancun International Airport on Friday, unsure when they would be able to return home.
Nora Vento said her flight to Chile was repeatedly delayed and her airline’s counter was unmanned.
“So, I don’t know when I will get to Chile,” she said.
Beryl, currently over Puerto Progreso in the Mexican state of Yucatan, is expected to gain strength as it enters the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to regain hurricane status and approach the western Gulf Coast on Sunday.
Hurricane watches are in effect for the Texas coast from the mouth of the Rio Grande north to Sargent, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Mexico’s meteorological service issued a hurricane warning along Mexico’s northeastern coast from Barra Hermezquital to the mouth of the Rio Grande.
“The risk of damaging hurricanes and life-threatening storm surges is increasing Sunday night and Monday for parts of northeastern Mexico and parts of the middle and lower Texas coast, where hurricane and storm surge advisories have been issued,” the National Hurricane Center said. alarm.
It warned that flash and urban flooding could occur in parts of the Texas Gulf Coast and East Texas from Sunday into the middle of next week.
Parts of the Texas Gulf Coast and East Texas are expected to receive 5 to 10 inches of rain, with localized amounts of 15 inches, from Sunday night into the middle of next week.
Mexico’s national water agency CONAGUA said there was a risk of flooding around tourist centers and in neighboring Campeche state.
Schools and local beaches in Quintana Roo were closed and officials lifted a temporary ban on alcohol sales.
Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season, became the earliest ever Category 5 hurricane this week, with scientists noting that its rapid intensification is almost certainly driven by human-caused climate change.
Before reaching Mexico, beryl wreaked havoc on several Caribbean islands. It swept through Jamaica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and brought heavy rainfall to northern Venezuela. It destroyed buildings and downed power lines and trees, killing at least 11 people.
The damage is particularly evident in the Grenada Islands.
Prime Minister Deacon Mitchell noted in a video briefing on Thursday night that homes in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique had been severely damaged. Parts of the latter two islands were “almost completely destroyed,” he said.
“Many of our citizens have lost everything.”
Mexico’s main oil platforms, mainly located on the southern edge of the Gulf of Mexico, are not expected to be affected or shut down.
Energy companies said on Friday they did not expect beryl to have a major impact on U.S. offshore oil and gas production, while evacuating personnel from some facilities out of an abundance of caution.
Research by the ClimaMeter Alliance determined that Beryl is significantly exacerbated by climate change. According to the study, the severity of storms and associated rainfall and wind speeds have increased by 10-30% due to the direct effects of climate change.
