Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall Monday morning, is getting attention for a special reason: It’s the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in the Atlantic Ocean as early as June. Here’s what you need to know about the storm.
• Read also: Get ready to see more and more tornadoes in Quebec
What is Category 4?
Hurricanes are classified on a scale of 1 to 5. Category 4 represents a hurricane that is “devastating due to extremely dangerous winds,” according to the U.S. National Weather Service website.
People in communities hit by a Category 4 hurricane may fear collapsed walls, which could lead to roofs collapsing. Damage to doors, windows and trees is also expected, and power could be out for weeks, according to the National Weather Service.
Why a Category 4 hurricane so early?
Hurricane Beryl reached Category 4 strength on Sunday, making it the first to reach that strength in June. Such hurricanes are typically seen later in the season when the water is warmer.
But the water is currently as warm as it normally is at the height of hurricane season, hurricane expert Jim Kossin told CNN.
“Hurricanes don’t know what month it is, they only know the parameters of their environment. Beryl is breaking records for June because Beryl thinks it’s September,” he said.
One of the consequences of global warming is the increase in the temperature of the water at the ocean surface.
Which communities are at risk?
Hurricane Beryl hit the Caribbean island of Carriacou, part of Grenada, on Monday morning, with winds of up to 240 km/h, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Monday.
In addition to Grenada, the hurricane is likely to affect other Caribbean islands. Barbados, Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines have received hurricane warnings and people are preparing to ride out the storm.
AFP
In Barbados, people prepared for Beryl. Here, a man boarded up the windows of a business in Bridgetown.
Other islands may be less affected.
Several Caribbean airports were closed during the storm.
AFP
A hotel worker in Bridgetown, Barbados.
You might be interested in this video:
