An ‘extremely dangerous’ and ‘life-threatening’ hurricane is hurtling towards the Caribbean.
Hurricane Beryl, which has been declared a powerful Category 3 storm, is set to make landfall this morning when it slams into Barbados and other islands in the West Indies.
It gathered velocity and reached Category 4 on Sunday with wind speeds of 130mph, but had reduced ever so slightly to 120mph and one level down by the early hours of Monday.
However, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned Beryl is ‘taking aim at the Windward Islands’, which also includes Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and Dominica among others.
Forecasters warned the ‘life-threatening storm surge will raise water levels by as much as six to nine feet above normal tide levels’ when it crashes into the coast.
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Frightening images from space show the sheer scale of the weather front which is carrying hurricane force winds as far as 30 miles out from the eye of the storm.
Tropical storm force winds are also currently extending outward as far as 115 miles from the centre of the hurricane, which will unleash a barrage of heavy rain.
Satellite maps shows Hurricane Beryl ominously barreling towards the Caribbean and the path it will take as it swirls west.
The NHC predicts the storm will hit islands lying to the east of the West Indies at around 8am local time (1pm UK time).
It will then continue to career on a westward trajectory through the Caribbean and towards Jamaica and central America in the coming days.
It is expected to weaken by midweek but won’t fizzle out quickly, still remaining a hurricane as it heads towards Mexico.
Urgent warnings have been issued by forecasters, local governments and emergency services.
‘Beryl is expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the Windward Islands this morning,’ the NHC said.
‘This is a very dangerous situation and residents in these areas should listen to local government and emergency management officials for any preparedness and/or evacuation orders.
‘Potentially catastrophic hurricane-force winds, a life-threatening storm surge and damaging waves are expected when Beryl passes over portions of the Windward Islands with the highest risk of the core in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada beginning later this morning.
‘Hurricane warnings are in effect for much of the Windward Islands.’
These are the five hurricane categories, according to the National Weather Service. Hurricane Beryl is currently measuring at Category 3.
It says: ‘The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane’s sustained wind speed. Hurricanes reaching Category 3 and higher are considered major hurricanes because of their potential for significant loss of life and damage.’
Category One: Very dangerous winds will produce some damage. Winds: 74-95mph.
Category Two: Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage. Winds: 96-110mph.
Category Three: Devastating damage will occur. Winds: 111-129mph.
Category Four: Catastrophic damage will occur. Winds: 130-156mph.
Category Five: Catastrophic damage will occur. Winds: 157mph+.
Much of the Caribbean began shutting down on Sunday amid urgent pleas from government officials for people to take shelter.
‘We have to remain vigilant,’ Barbadian prime minister Mia Mottley said in a public address late on Saturday. ‘We do not want to put anybody’s life at risk. Do not let your guard down.’
Long queues formed at fuel stations and supermarkets in the Caribbean as people rushed to prepare for a record-breaking storm and rapidly intensified from a tropical storm with 35mph winds on Friday to a Category 1 hurricane on Saturday – and now Category 3.
Warm waters are fuelling Beryl, with ocean heat content in the deep Atlantic the highest on record for this time of year, according to Brian McNoldy, a tropical meteorology researcher from the University of Miami.
Thousands of people were in Barbados for Saturday’s Twenty20 World Cup final, cricket’s biggest event, with Ms Mottley noting that not all fans were able to leave on Sunday despite many rushing to change their flights.
‘Some of them have never gone through a storm before,’ she said. ‘We have plans to take care of them.’
She said all businesses should close by Sunday evening and warned that the airport would close by nighttime.
Kemar Saffrey, president of a Barbadian group that aims to end homelessness, said in a video posted on social media on Saturday night that those without homes tend to think they can ride out storms because they have done it before.
‘I don’t want that to be the approach that they take,’ he said, warning that Beryl is a dangerous storm and urging Barbadians to direct homeless people to a shelter.
Home affairs and information minister Wilfred Abrahams echoed his comments and said: ‘I need Barbadians at this point to be their brother’s keeper. Some people are vulnerable.’
Meanwhile, St Lucia prime minister Philip J Pierre announced a national shutdown for Sunday evening and said schools and businesses will remain closed on Monday.
He said: ‘Preservation and protection of life is a priority.’
The NHC added: ‘Beryl is expected to remain a powerful hurricane as it moves across the Caribbean Sea later this week.
‘A tropical storm watch is in effect for portions of the southern coast of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
‘Interests elsewhere in Hispaniola, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and the remainder of the northwestern Caribbean should monitor its progress – and additional watches and warnings will likely be required this week.’
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