Powerful Hurricane Beryl made landfall in the Caribbean on Monday as a Category 4 hurricane, killing at least four people, destroying homes and snapping trees.
The hurricane first struck Carriacou, a small island north of Grenada, on Monday morning, flattening it in just half an hour, while also causing severe damage to the neighboring island of Petite Martinique. Rescue teams left Grenada on Tuesday morning to deliver supplies and assess the damage to both islands.
Carriacou is known for its coral reefs and diving spots, while Petite Martinique Most people work in fishing or boat building. Government data.
Late Monday, Beryl strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane and moved westward toward Jamaica.
The storm is an anomaly in an already busy storm season that runs until the end of November. On Sunday, it developed into a Category 4 storm, becoming the third major hurricane to form in the Atlantic in June and the first Category 4 hurricane to occur so early in the season.
The storm went on to set records, becoming the first Atlantic storm to reach Category 5 strength early in the season. According to Philip Klotzbachis a meteorologist at Colorado State University who specializes in tropical cyclones.
The storm’s rapid intensification is a direct result of above-average sea surface temperatures and a harbinger of what to expect this hurricane season. The faster a hurricane intensifies, the more dangerous it is because the less time people in affected areas are expected to prepare and evacuate.
