Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in Mexico as threat grows for Texas: Live updates

Hurricane Beryl devastated Jamaica on Wednesday, destroying buildings and knocking out power for 400,000 customers

Hurricane Beryl on path for Yucatan Peninsula, Gulf of Mexico

Hurricane Beryl, currently a Category 1 storm, has made landfall at the popular Mexico tourist resort Tulum on Friday morning with 85mph (140km/h) winds and dangerous storm surge.

The region will see life-threatening winds, up to six feet of storm surge and up to ten inches of rainfall, the National Hurricane Center has forecast.

Hurricane Beryl will then bring dangerous rip currents to the Gulf Coast over the weekend before likely hitting southern Texas Monday.

Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has warned that Beryl may make a direct hit on Tulum, urging tourists and residents to seek higher ground, shelter, or homes of family and friends elsewhere.

“Don’t hesitate, material possessions can be replaced,” the president wrote.

Hurricane Beryl has killed at least ten people, Reuters reports. Two of those killed — the first in St George’s, Grenada and the second in Hanover, Jamaica — died after hurricane-force winds knocked trees onto their homes.

Hurricane Beryl devastated Jamaica on Wednesday, knocking out power to 400,000 and destroying buildings, while Grenada was also left with “unimaginable” destruction after the storm passed through Monday, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said, damaging or destroying 98 percent of buildings.

Key Points

• Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in Mexico
• Mapped: Hurricane Beryl’s path
• Hurricane Beryl on path to hit Texas by late Sunday
• Texas governor directs residents to make ‘emergency plan’ for Hurricane Beryl
• Hurricane Beryl death toll rises to ten
• Beryl has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane

[5 July 2024 15:00 · Amelia Neath]

Jamaica’s Prime Minister says they were ‘spared the worst'

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that the island was “spared the worst of Hurricane Beryl,” but that the damage was “still significant.”

Holness told CNN in an interview on Thursday, that the “damage was not what we had expected and so we’re very grateful for that.”

“But there was damage, nonetheless. We had a damage to some coastal infrastructure in southern parishes. We had damage to agriculture and housing in two parishes, Manchester, and St. Elisabeth. We have had some roads cut off a lot. But outside of that, I think Jamaica was spared the worst,” he added.

The Prime Minister added that there had been two deaths registered due to Beryl in the country, and that around 1,000 people remained in shelters, but that telecommunications are now around 70 per cent operational.

“As we begin to put the pieces back together, I encourage Jamaicans to prioritize their safety and support one another,” he wrote on X. “With our collective strength and resilience, we will recover and emerge stronger than before.”

[5 July 2024 14:28 · Amelia Neath]

Texas prepares for Beryl after landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula

Texas is currently preparing for whatever Hurricane Beryl may bring to the state as the hurricane is expected to move toward northeastern Mexico and southern Texas by the end of the weekend after emerging over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico tonight.

Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to increase the readiness level of their state emergency operations center effective at 10am on Friday, July 5.

The Governor has also instructed TDEM to begin readying their state emergency response resources for “potential deployment” ahead of Hurricane Beryl’s potential impact.

“Texas is prepared to quickly deploy all available emergency response resources to assist at-risk communities,” Abbot said.

“As Texans and visitors around the south coastal areas begin to celebrate our nation’s Independence Day, I urge them to make an emergency plan, review hurricane evacuation routes, and continue to monitor weather conditions to ensure the safety of themselves and their loved ones,” he added.

“Texas continues to closely monitor weather conditions to protect the safety and well-being of Texans,” he said.

The resources that are being readied include search and rescue personnel, fire mutual aid system, national guard personnel, highway patrol troopers, the tactical marine unit, aircraft, emergency medical task force and highway maintenance personnel.

Texans are being urged to monitor their local weather forecasts, follow directions of local officials, make emergency plans, review hurricane evacuation routes, build an emergency supplies kit as well as remain aware of flood risks and rip currents.

[5 July 2024 14:00 · Katie Hawkinson]

Shocking aerial photos show widespread devastation as Hurricane Beryl moves through Caribbean

[5 July 2024 13:55 · Amelia Neath]

See It: Hurricane Beryl barrelling towards Mexico on July 4 before it made landfall on Friday

This satellite image obtained from the NOAA shows Hurricane Beryl on July 4, 2024, at 15:10:22 GMT (10:10:22 ET) heading to Mexico (NOAA/RAMMB/AFP via Getty Images)

[5 July 2024 13:24 · Amelia Neath]

In Pictures: Mexico bracing for Hurricane Beryl that has now made landfall

Hurricane Beryl has now made landfall near Tulum, a popular tourist destination in Mexico, bringing with it hurricane-force winds, storm surge and damaging waves.

In the days before Beryl hit, the Yucatan Peninsula started to prepare for what was to come, after Beryl already killed at least 10 people and brought mass destruction to islands in the Caribbean this week.

Storm shelters were opened, and tourist resorts prepared for the strong winds, as authorities also taped off beaches and thousands of troops were deployed ahead of Beryl.

A view shows a closed beach ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Beryl, in Cancun, Mexico July 4, 2024 (REUTERS)

Navy soldiers patrol the beaches due to the approach of hurricane Beryl, in the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Mexico, 04 July 2024 (EPA)

People set up a shelter due to the approach of hurricane Beryl in the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Mexico, 04 July 2024 (EPA)

Workers of the Motto by Hilton Hotel put tape on windows, ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Beryl, in Tulum, Mexico, July 5, 2024 (REUTERS)

A closed beach ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Beryl, in Cancun, Mexico July 4, 2024 (REUTERS)

[5 July 2024 13:13 · Amelia Neath]

Hurricane Beryl moves inland after making landfall in Mexico Friday morning

Beryl’s maximum sustained winds have dropped ever so slightly to 100mphm (160km/h) as the storm moves inland over the Yucatan Peninsula.

The center of the hurricane is expected to cross the northern Yucatan Peninsula today before emerging over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico tonight.

The hurricane is expected to rapidly weaken as it traverses further inland, but will re-intensify once it moves back over the Gulf of Mexico.

[5 July 2024 13:00 · Katie Hawkinson]

ICYMI: Watch as plane flies into the eye of Hurricane Beryl

[5 July 2024 12:23 · Amelia Neath]

Hurricane Beryl makes landfall near popular Mexico tourist resort Tulum

The center of Hurricane Beryl has made landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula, just northeast of the popular Mexcian tourist area of Tulum at around 6.05am EST Friday morning.

Maximum sustained winds are at 110mph (175mph), meaning Beryl currently stays at a strong Category 2 storm.

[5 July 2024 12:17 · Amelia Neath]

Mexico’s tourist destinations on red alert as beaches close and troops deployed

Mexico’s popular tourist destinations have been put on red alert Thursday night as the Category 2 hurricane moves in after leaving a path of devastation across Caribbean islands.

As Hurricane Beryl is expected to make landfall in the next few hours, Mexico’s top tourist destinations were put on red alert as life-threatening and dangerous weather conditions are due to pass over the area.

A "red alert" called by Mexico’s civil protection agency indicates a threat of maximum hazard from the hurricane, telling people to stay in their homes or at storm shelters, Reuters said.

"Let’s take all measures of prevention and care because the winds and rains will be felt throughout the state. At this time no one should be away from home," Quintana Roo Governor Maya Lezama said.

Police have taped off beaches in Playa del Carmen, while in Quintana Roo, schools have been shut, and around 120 storm shelters were opened by the defense ministry.

More than 8,600 troops from the army, air force and national guard have been deployed in the Yucatan Peninsula to assist and support as Hurricane Beryl draws near, CNN reports.

[5 July 2024 12:00 · Katie Hawkinson]

ICYMI: United Nations dedicates $4 million to aid for Jamaica, eastern Caribbean

The United Nations will put $4 million towards aid efforts in Jamaica, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, the BBC reports.

Earlier this week, the UN said officials in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are working closely with local leaders to help with recovery efforts.

“To date, Grenada and St Vincent’s and the Grenadines have reported hundreds of people in shelters,” a UN spokesperson said.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has asked for the international community to “show solidarity” with all the Caribbean countries in Hurricane Beryl’s path, the spokesperson said.