Hurricane Beryl is approaching the Antilles this Monday, July 1, a hurricane watch is in effect for the islands of Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.
“Catastrophic winds”, “potentially fatal storm surges” and “destructive waves”… The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami is warning of the imminent passage of Hurricane Beryl near the Antilles.
In its bulletin, the Météo-France agency indicates more precisely that this formation should reach category 4 this Monday, July 1 before “crossing the Antilles arc during the day on Monday, between Grenada and Saint Lucia”. In forecast: a “clear deterioration” of the weather conditions in Martinique.
A hurricane yellow alert is already in effect for the islands of Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada. Hurricane Beryl could pack winds of more than 215 km/h, said Shakeer Baig, director of the Trinidad and Tobago weather service, which is also under threat. The expert stressed that “Béryl is a hurricane that can put lives in danger.”
In Martinique, winds will blow on average at 45-55 km/h in the northern half, and up to 65 km/h in the south, or even up to 100 km/h in the most exposed parts. In terms of precipitation, cumulative rainfall could reach 80 to 100 mm, up to 120 mm locally during this episode.
A succession of hurricanes in perspective?
Note, Béryl went from tropical depression to hurricane stage in just 42 hours, which has only happened 6 times in the history of Atlantic hurricanes, according to Météo-France. And he doesn’t come alone.
“Béryl’s successor, the probable future Chris could well be born in the wave that follows, already monitored by the NHC. Béryl’s little brother could become a hurricane in its wake,” the French agency specifies to BFMTV .
After crossing the Caribbean, Beryl could reach the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, where the resorts of Cancun and Riviera Maya are located, on Tuesday evening. “For the moment, (Beryl) does not pose a danger to Mexican territory,” the National Meteorological Service said.
Kevin Floury and Tom Kerkour with AFP
