Hurricane Beryl has caused at least six deaths in the Caribbean and continues to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, and flooding to the region. The storm, currently a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 155 mph, is the strongest July hurricane ever recorded. Three people died in Grenada, two in Venezuela, and one in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell described the situation in Grenada as grim, with significant damage to homes and buildings.
Beryl is moving westward across the Caribbean and is expected to pass near Jamaica and the Cayman Islands before reaching the Yucatán Peninsula. Jamaica upgraded its advisory to a hurricane warning, and Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged residents to seek higher ground and be prepared for adverse weather conditions. Jamaica is likely to experience heavy rain and flooding, with a storm surge of 5 to 8 feet above normal tide levels.
The effects of Beryl may extend to the continental U.S., with the potential for minor coastal flooding in southeast Texas or southwest Louisiana. Tropical storm warnings are in place for Hispaniola, with a hurricane watch for the south coast of Haiti. Beryl is the strongest hurricane to pass through the Windward Islands, including Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, and Martinique. It is the earliest Category 4 storm in the Atlantic hurricane season. The region is preparing for significant impact and damage as Beryl continues to advance.
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