Hurricane Beryl batters Jamaica as it moves through Caribbean with potential to hit Texas over the weekend

Hurricane Beryl’s path includes Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, where it will bring life-threatening storm conditions

Life-threatening conditions expected in Jamaica

Hurricane Beryl is hitting Jamaica with life-threatening rain, 145mph winds and storm surge that could raise coastal levels by 9 feet after charting a deadly path through the eastern Caribbean.

High winds from the Category 4 storm have already knocked down power lines in Portland, the Jamaica Observer reports. Officials have declared Jamaica a disaster area and imposed a curfew for Wednesday.

There are more than 900 shelters across Jamaica and an evacuation process for those in flood-prone areas, Information Minister Dana Morris Dixon said.

The storm’s eye will approach the Cayman Islands tonight before heading toward Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Hurricane Beryl has killed at least seven people. The storm intensified to the earliest Category 5 storm recorded in the Atlantic overnight before weakening back to Category 4 on Tuesday.

While the storm is expected to weaken later this week, it will likely remain a major hurricane. Hurricane Beryl has the potential to hit southern Texas and Louisiana over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Grenada was left with “unimaginable” destruction after the storm passed through Monday, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said. Officials said 98 percent of buildings in the nation of 6,000 had been damaged or destroyed.

Key Points

• Hurricane Beryl tracker: When will storm hit Cayman Islands?
• Mapped: Hurricane Beryl’s path
• Texans should monitor Hurricane Beryl’s path, meteorologists say
• Death toll from Hurricane Beryl rises to seven
• Jamaica sees power outages as Hurricane Beryl hits

[3 July 2024 03:00 · Katie Hawkinson]

Video: Hurricane Beryl hits Bridgetown, Barbados

[3 July 2024 02:00 · Katie Hawkinson]

In photos: Devastation in Bequia after Hurricane Beryl

Hurricane Beryl destroyed homes and knocked out power as it passed through Bequia, the largest island in the Grenadines.

At least one person died on the island because of the storm, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said on Monday. The hurricane also damaged or destroyed 90 percent of homes on the nation’s Union Island.

Hurricane Beryl destroyed hundreds of buildings and killed six people when it ripped through the eastern Caribbean, including the island of Bequia, pictured (Louis Wilson/ Provided)

Hurricane Beryl destroyed several homes, pictured, on the island of Bequia (Louis Wilson/Provided)

[3 July 2024 01:00 · Katie Hawkinson]

Hurricane Beryl became earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic

Hurricane Beryl has now beaten two historic records in the Atlantic.

Beryl was named the earliest Category 5 hurricane recorded in the Atlantic after it strengthened late on Monday, the National Hurricane Center has said. The previous title was held by Hurricane Emily, who reached Category 5 on July 16, 2005.

Beryl was also named the earliest-ever Category 4 hurricane as it approached the eastern Caribbean over the weekend, as well as the only Category 4 in the month of June.

In this category, Beryl beat Hurricane Dennis, which became a Category 4 storm on July 8, 2005.

The deadly storm weakened back down to a Category 4 on Tuesday afternoon. It is now barreling towards Jamaica, where officials warn residents should rush life-saving protections to completion.

[3 July 2024 00:00 · Katie Hawkinson]

Watch: Plane flies into the eye of Hurricane Beryl

[2 July 2024 23:00 · Katie Hawkinson]

Video: Hurricane Beryl tears roof off school as storm rips through Caribbean