Hurricane Beryl slammed Jamaica with damaging winds and heavy rain before heading towards the Cayman Islands and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula as a major Category 3 hurricane. Beryl is expected to bring strong winds, dangerous storm surge, and damaging waves to these areas, with the potential for heavy rain and life-threatening surf and rip currents. Emergency preparations were underway, with power outages reported in Jamaica and one confirmed fatality due to the storm. Communications across affected islands were limited, with officials warning of potential food shortages and extensive damage. Beryl is forecasted to weaken but may still impact the Yucatan Peninsula and the US Gulf Coast. Forecasters are uncertain about the storm’s track and intensity, with the possibility of direct impacts on Texas. Coastal threats, including increasing surf, rip currents, and coastal flooding, are expected to begin this weekend. The Caribbean islands reported significant damages from Beryl, with over 90% of homes and buildings destroyed or severely damaged. Recovery efforts were ongoing, with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency coordinating disaster response. The impacts of Beryl on the Grenadine Islands were described as significant, leaving residents exposed and vulnerable. A tropical wave brought additional rain and winds to the affected areas as recovery efforts continued.
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