Tropical Storm Beryl expected to strengthen into ‘dangerous major hurricane’ in central Atlantic. It poses a rare threat
A depression in the central Atlantic has strengthened into Tropical Storm Beryl, which is expected to develop into a “dangerous major hurricane” as it approaches the Windward Islands Sunday night or Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
It brings a risk of heavy rainfall, hurricane-force winds and dangerous storm surge and waves to the central and western Carribean.
“Beryl is expected to rapidly strengthen and be a major hurricane when it reaches the Windward Islands late Sunday night or Monday, bringing destructive hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surge,” warns the center.
The storm has sustained wind speeds of 65 mph and is expected to reach hurricane strength within the next 12 hours, making it the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. The average date for the first hurricane is August 11. The storm has been intensified by exceptionally warm ocean temperatures, driven by planet-warming fossil fuel pollution.
Beryl could lash parts of the Lesser Antilles – the arching chain of islands that form a broken barrier between the open Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea – by the end of the weekend. Hurricane watches have been issued for Barbados, St Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada. Tropical storm watches have been issued for Martinique and Tobago.
The storm is also worth monitoring for those with interests along the US and Mexico Gulf coasts, but it will take a few days to sort out exactly where it will go or how strong it will be. More clarity should come once it is in the Caribbean Sea early next week.
The system had 50 mph winds early Saturday, the National Hurricane Center reported, and was located about 975 miles east-southeast of Barbados.
It’s rare for tropical systems to form and track east of the Lesser Antilles in June. That this formed so early in the season – and in this part of the Atlantic – is a sign of the hyperactive hurricane season to come, according to research from Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane expert and research scientist at Colorado State University.
Normally, ocean temperatures aren’t warm enough in this region in June and July to help tropical systems thrive. That’s hardly the case this year, and one of the reasons behind record-high hurricane season forecasts over the past few months. Ocean temperatures remain close to the off-the-charts highs being set this time last year in the area where the storm is tracking through and are currently at levels more commonly found in August and September.
It’s a small slice of a bigger problem. Ocean temperatures across the globe and the Atlantic were record warm for over a year, driven upward by planet-warming fossil fuel pollution and in part by El Niño.
This system is not alone. There are two other areas being monitored by the National Hurricane Center for development, including one in the same area of the Atlantic where this system formed and another in the southwest Gulf of Mexico.
Both have low odds of developing over the next week, but given the unusual early season action and favorable ocean temperatures, will have to be watched closely.
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