Hurricane Beryl, a Category 5 storm with winds near 165 m.p.h., left a trail of destruction across the southeast Caribbean, resulting in at least two reported deaths in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The storm flattened Carriacou and Petite Martinique, causing “extreme” damage to these small islands. The destruction continued in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with one reported death and hundreds of severely damaged homes, schools, and churches.
This was an unusual storm for the region, being the third major Atlantic hurricane ever in June and the first time a Category 4 storm formed this early in the season. Beryl rapidly escalated to Category 5 status in just 42 hours due to above-average sea surface temperatures. Despite predictions of its path hitting Jamaica, officials in Barbados reported that the island was relatively spared from severe damage, with only 40 homes sustaining damage.
Preparations were made across the eastern Caribbean in anticipation of the storm, emphasizing the importance of being ready for hurricanes. The Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, noted the potential for disaster and expressed relief that the impact was not as severe as expected. The storm’s destruction and rapid escalation highlighted the importance of being prepared for such extreme weather events.
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