Published on June 29, 2024 at 4:12 p.m.
Beryl, the second tropical storm of the year to be named, could well accomplish a feat in the coming hours. Will its winds push it toward hurricane status, or even a major hurricane? Forecast.
Beryl, a system that wants to impose itself
This strong system began to take shape late Friday evening, June 28. Although still a tropical storm, the system is gaining strength. It is taking its time, but it is certainly preparing to show its full power! NOAA is predicting that this system will intensify rapidly. It could even reach major hurricane status by Monday morning.
Sectors that will be surprised by this hasty visit
Beryl will continue its course towards the Caribbean and could reach the stage of a category 3 hurricane, just before making landfall. It is expected to hit Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Martinique. In fact, Barbados has already issued a hurricane watch and is monitoring the situation very closely. Areas from Saint Lucia to Grenada have not been slow to follow suit.
Residents in areas in Beryl’s path can expect heavy rain (possibly up to more than 150 mm). Flooding, flash floods and landslides are therefore not to be ruled out. Not to mention that some infrastructure in the Antilles is more fragile. Strong winds will also blow over these areas.
An advance of an intensity that stands out
When extreme weather systems of this kind follow their more normal course, the second named system of the year receives its baptism more around July 17. On the hurricane side, we are talking about August 11. So, Beryl is clearly ahead! However, it is becoming more and more common to bring these dates forward, especially over the last five years.
The great particularity of the Beryl “phenomenon”? If it becomes a hurricane, then it would be very early. A hurricane in June (yes, yes, that would be the case for Beryl even if it would appear on the 30th, the very last day of the month), is still rare. In recent years, it has been more in July or September… except in the case of Hurricane Alex, in 2016. This one decided to declare itself in January! An extraordinary event to say the least. But be careful! Beryl has not said its last word… Since Beryl’s face is changing quickly, it is not impossible that it could become the earliest major hurricane since Alma, on June 8, 1966!
Another very interesting little fact: Beryl could become the earliest hurricane to form this far east, in the Atlantic. Normally, hurricanes tend to form this deep in the heart of the ocean much later in the season. Clearly, dear Beryl does not intend to go unnoticed!
With the collaboration of Alexandra Giroux, meteorologist.
