Hurricane Beryl Leaves Trail of Destruction as Category 4 Storm Hits Southeast Caribbean

Hurricane Beryl, the earliest storm of Category 4 strength to form in the Atlantic, made landfall on the island of Carriacou, causing widespread destruction across the southeastern Caribbean. The hurricane, fueled by record warm waters, ripped off doors, windows, and roofs of homes, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Communication lines were largely down, and there were no immediate reports of possible deaths or injuries.

Destruction and Damage

Streets from St. Lucia island south to Grenada were littered with debris, including tree limbs and downed power lines, as winds reaching up to 150 mph wreaked havoc. The storm snapped banana trees in half, and reports indicated that the hurricane killed cows in green pastures. Additionally, homes made of tin and plywood were left in precarious conditions, leaning from the force of the storm.

"Right now, I'm real heartbroken," said Vichelle Clark King, as she surveyed her damaged shop in the Barbadian capital of Bridgetown, which was filled with sand and water.

Continued Threats

Beryl continued to impact the southeast Caribbean, moving on a track that brought it just south of Jamaica and then toward Mexico's Yucatan peninsula as a Category 1 storm. The National Hurricane Center warned that Beryl would remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane as it moved over the eastern Caribbean.

Reports of Devastation

NBC Radio in St. Vincent and the Grenadines received reports of roofs being torn off churches and schools, while in nearby Grenada, officials received "reports of devastation" from Carriacou and surrounding islands. Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell noted an "extensive" storm surge, increasing the likelihood of even greater damage.

"There is the likelihood of even greater damage," he told reporters. "We have no choice but to continue to pray."

Emergency Response

In Barbados, Wilfred Abrahams, minister of home affairs and information, announced that drones would be deployed to assess the damage once the hurricane subsided. Forecasters had warned of a life-threatening storm surge in areas where Beryl made landfall, along with significant rainfall for the impacted islands.

Unprecedented Strength

Beryl strengthened from a tropical depression to a major hurricane in just 42 hours, marking a historic event in Atlantic hurricane history. It also set a record as the earliest Category 4 Atlantic hurricane, surpassing previous early developments. The hurricane amassed its strength from record warm waters, creating conditions hotter than those typically seen at the peak of hurricane season in September.

Forecast and Warnings

As Hurricane Beryl continued to pose threats, government officials also issued warnings about a separate cluster of thunderstorms mirroring the hurricane's path, with a 70% chance of becoming a tropical depression. This raised concerns about potential back-to-back storms impacting the region.

Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook

Beryl is the second named storm in the Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts a potentially above-average hurricane season, with an estimate of 17 to 25 named storms, including as many as 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

NOAA's prediction, if realized, would result in a significantly heightened level of activity compared to an average Atlantic hurricane season, which typically produces 14 named storms, seven of them hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.