Hurricane Beryl has become an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm as it continues to inch closer to the Windward Islands, bringing life-threatening winds and storm surge to the Caribbean, the National Hurricane Center said Sunday.
Beryl strengthened into a category 4 Sunday afternoon and is expected to continue to strengthening as it travels west across the Atlantic.
Its center is expected to move across the Windward Islands early Monday, with hurricane conditions including heavy rainfall expected Sunday evening, the agency said.
The Windward Islands include Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Martinique. As of Sunday morning, Beryl was about 355 miles east-southeast of Barbados with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. It’s moving west at around 21 mph.
A hurricane warning is in effect for Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Tobago, where hurricane conditions are possible starting early Monday morning. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Martinique and tropical storm watches are in effect for Dominica and Trinidad, which could all experience tropical storm conditions Sunday night.
“Potentially catastrophic wind damage is expected where the eyewall of Beryl moves through portions of the Windward Islands, with the highest risk of the core in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada,” the hurricane center said.
Life-threatening storm surges may raise water levels by 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels in the hurricane watch areas and bring destructive waves to the coast.
A total of 3 to 6 inches of rainfall is possible across Barbados and the Windward Islands Sunday into Monday, which may cause flooding in some areas. Up to 10 inches of rain is possible in some areas, especially in the Grenadines.
The Saint Lucia Tourism Board announced a national shutdown as a result of the hurricane warning that will go into effect Sunday 8:30 p.m. local time and won’t be lifted “until the All Clear is given.”
“During this time, please remain indoors and away from glass windows once tropical hurricane-force winds affect the area,” the tourism board said in a Facebook post. “All persons should avoid entering the ocean. Failure to comply with this request puts human lives at risk, including those of our first responders.”
The board also encouraged tourists to contact their airlines to schedule flights home.
The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has canceled all police leave in preparation for Beryl.
“All officers are requested to report to the nearest police station by 6:00 p.m. today, Sunday, June 30, 2024,” the force said on Facebook.
In Grenada, a state of emergency will go into effect 7 p.m. Sunday night and remain for a week, “unless earlier revoked,” Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said during a briefing.
The country’s National Disaster Management Agency encouraged the public to secure three day’s worth of non-perishable food and water to sustain them as Beryl makes impact. Those in areas susceptible to storm surge were encouraged to move to one of the shelters opened across Grenada.
Mitchell warned the public that “this is not a drill.”
“We need to be calm, we need to pray, but most importantly we need to prepare,” Mitchell said.
All police leave has also been canceled in Grenada and officers were asked to return to work, per Mitchell.
