Texas braces for Beryl as experts warn the storm could strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico: Live updates

Beryl is heading toward Texas after making landfall at the popular Mexico tourist destination Tulum on Friday morning with 85mph winds and dangerous storm surge.

Tropical Storm Beryl is set to bring dangerous rip currents to the Gulf Coast over the weekend before likely hitting southern Texas late Sunday. The storm will likely re-strengthen into a hurricane as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico, the National Weather Service said. Beryl is expected to hit Texas as a Category 1 hurricane, according to Accuweather.

Governor Greg Abbott warned Texans to prepare for impact.

“As Texans and visitors in south coastal areas celebrate Independence Day, I urge them to also make an emergency plan to stay safe,” Abbott said.

Hurricane Beryl has killed at least eleven people, the Associated Press reports. Two of those killed — the first in St George’s, Grenada and the second in Hanover, Jamaica — died after hurricane-force winds knocked trees onto their homes.

Hurricane Beryl devastated Jamaica on Wednesday, knocking out power to 400,000 and destroying buildings. Grenada was also left with “unimaginable” destruction after the storm passed through Monday, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said, leaving 98 percent of buildings damaged or destroyed.

Key Points

• Tropical Storm Beryl to hit Gulf of Mexico within hours

• Mapped: Beryl’s path

• Beryl on path to hit Texas by late Sunday

• Texas governor directs residents to make ‘emergency plan’ for Beryl

• Beryl downgraded to tropical storm

• Beryl death toll rises to eleven

World Central Kitchen sends aid to Carriacou Island

00:00 , Katie Hawkinson

World Central Kitchen, a disaster relief non-profit, has sent a support team to Grenada’s Carriacou Island in the wake of Hurricane Beryl.

The storm “flattened” the island in half an hour on Monday, officials said, after it swept through the region as a Category 5 hurricane.

Hurricane Beryl death toll rises to 11, no deaths reported in Mexico yet

23:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl has killed at least 11 people in the eastern Caribbean, the Associated Press reported Friday morning.

At least two of those killed — the first in St George’s, Grenada and the second in Hanover, Jamaica — died after hurricane-force winds knocked trees onto their homes. Hurricane Beryl caused widespread destruction in Jamaica, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines this week.

There have been no reports of injuries or deaths from Hurricane Beryl in Mexico, according to Laura Velázquez Alzúa, coordinator of civil protection.

Authorities are already out on the streets assessing the damage the strong winds have caused, particularly in the popular holiday destination of Tulum.

ICYMI: Texas governor directs residents to make ‘emergency plan’ for Hurricane Beryl

23:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Beryl is set to hit southern Texas by late Sunday night, and Governor Greg Abbott is warning residents to make a plan for the weekend as they celebrate July 4.

“As Texans and visitors in south coastal areas celebrate Independence Day, I urge them to also make an emergency plan to stay safe,” Abbott said on X.

While Beryl weakened to a tropical storm today, it is expected to restrengthen after it settles over the Gulf of Mexico this weekend. Southern Texas will start to see storm conditions by Sunday night, the National Weather Service said.

The governor has also directed the state’s Division of Emergency Management to increase their readiness level on Friday morning.

“Texas is prepared to quickly deploy all available emergency response resources to assist at-risk communities,” Abbott said.

Yucatan Peninsula reeling after Beryl strikes

22:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Beryl, which made landfall as a Category 2 near the tourist destination of Tulum on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula early Friday, knocked down trees and power lines through the region.

More than half of Tulum has no power, according to Laura Velázquez, national coordinator of Mexican Civil Protection. Hurricane-strength conditions downed trees and powerlines throughout the region. Authorities are still out on the streets assessing the damage the strong winds have caused.

The storm spared many of the five-star resorts in the area but devastated many low-income coastal communities, The Washington Post reports.

However, no deaths have been reported in Mexico as of Friday afternoon.

Tropical Storm Beryl to hit Gulf of Mexico within hours

21:55 , Katie Hawkinson

The center of Tropical Storm Beryl is expected to arrive in the Gulf of Mexico in the coming hours, the National Weather Service said moments ago.

There, Beryl is expected to re-strengthen into a hurricane by Sunday. The storm will create dangerous riptides along the Gulf Coast before hitting southern Texas on Sunday evening.

See It: Hurricane Beryl churning towards Mexico on July 4 before it made landfall on Friday

21:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Shocking aerial photos show widespread devastation as Beryl moved through Caribbean

21:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Beryl ripped through the Caribbean and devastated communities in Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines on Monday - with shocking aerial photos showing the widespread damage.

Read more:

Hurricane Beryl: Aerial images show before and after of storm’s destruction

In pictures: Beryl hits Tulum, Mexico

20:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Mexican officials share first pictures of damage caused by Beryl

20:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Quintana Roo’s Governor Mara Lezama shared images of Beryl’s impact after it made landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula early Friday morning.

While Beryl caused drastic damage and devastation to Caribbean countries such as Grenada’s islands, so far the tropical storm has delivered damage to the impacted Mexican region such as a gas station slanting over, toppled trees, debris on the coastline and utility poles crashing down.

Authorities in the area are still warning people to stay indoors as they are still in a ‘red alert,’ while strong winds continue to pass through the region.

Rapid analysis shows Beryl impacted by climate crisis

19:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Beryl, now a tropical storm as it hits Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, was made 10-30 percent more intense due to human-induced climate change, according to a rapid analysis study by Climameter.

Beryl’s higher intensity was also driven by natural weather patterns in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, according to the Climameter study.

Beryl made history the earliest recorded Category 5 hurricane this week.

“It’s really scary stuff,” Steve Maximay, a climate and agriculture expert in Grenada, previously told The Independent.

”When you talk about Category 4 and 5, there are very few systems or protocols that can prepare you for that,” Maximay continued. “You can have resilient buildings but category five winds can move concrete structures.”

Hurricane Beryl’s growth into a Category 5 storm can be partly attributed to record-warm ocean temperatures. High water temperatures can contribute to sea level rise and hurt marine life in addition to fueling strong storms like Hurricane Beryl. Ocean temperatures will likely continue to rise even if we curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to NOAA.

Island nations are at the front lines of the climate crisis, given their vulnerability to violent storms and sea-level rise.

The Alliance of Small Island States, an organization designed to create a unified voice for small island nations to address the ongoing climate crisis, denounced the climate crisis and its impact on island nations.

“We continue to be sacrificed on the frontlines of a climate crisis we did not cause,” the statement said. “Our sea temperatures grow warmer, encouraging storms to strengthen at alarming speed and increasing the dire threat to our developing countries. The increased danger is evident for the world to see.”

Beryl downgraded to tropical storm

18:53 , Katie Hawkinson

Beryl has weakened to a tropical storm on Friday afternoon, the National Weather Service (NWS) said moments ago. However, it is expected to re-gain strength as it travels through the Gulf of Mexico.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds are now at 85mph.

The storm is still expected to bring dangerous storm conditions to Texas early next week.

Hurricane Beryl death toll rises to 11, no deaths reported in Mexico yet

18:50 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl has killed at least 11 people in the eastern Caribbean, the Associated Press reported Friday morning.

At least two of those killed — the first in St George’s, Grenada and the second in Hanover, Jamaica — died after hurricane-force winds knocked trees onto their homes. Hurricane Beryl caused widespread destruction in Jamaica, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines this week.

There have been no reports of injuries or deaths from Hurricane Beryl in Mexico, according to Laura Velázquez Alzúa, coordinator of civil protection.

Authorities are already out on the streets assessing the damage the strong winds have caused, particularly in the popular holiday destination of Tulum.

Video: Hurricane Beryl makes landfall near Tulum, Mexico

18:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl on path to hit Texas by late Sunday

18:05 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl, now a Category 1 storm, is set to hit Texas by late Sunday night, the National Weather Service said.

The storm will bring dangerous rip currents to the Gulf Coast over the weekend before hitting southern Texas. Governor Greg Abbott is warning residents to make a plan for the weekend as they celebrate July 4.

“As Texans and visitors in south coastal areas celebrate Independence Day, I urge them to also make an emergency plan to stay safe,” Abbott said on X.

Texas governor directs residents to make ‘emergency plan’ for Hurricane Beryl

17:40 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl is set to hit southern Texas by late Sunday night, and Governor Greg Abbott is warning residents to make a plan for the weekend as they celebrate July 4.

“As Texans and visitors in south coastal areas celebrate Independence Day, I urge them to also make an emergency plan to stay safe,” Abbott said on X.

The governor has also directed the state’s Division of Emergency Management to increase their readiness level on Friday morning.

“Texas is prepared to quickly deploy all available emergency response resources to assist at-risk communities,” Abbott said.

Meteorologists warn of rip currents in the Gulf Coast

17:20 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl is set to move to the Gulf Coast in the coming hours after making landfall in Mexico.

Residents on the coast should be cautious of the life-threatening rip currents the storm will create, the National Weather Service said.

Homes flooded and power outages across affected area in Mexico; no deaths or injuries reported

17:00 , Amelia Neath

Laura Velázquez Alzúa, Mexico’s coordinator of civil protection, spoke in a news conference on Friday, saying that there have been no reports of injuries or deaths as a result of Hurricane Beryl so far as officials start to assess the damage left behind by Hurricane Beryl.

Authorities are already out on the streets assessing the damage the strong winds have caused, particularly in the popular holiday destination of Tulum.

Around 40 per cent of Tulum’s electrical grid users have reported interruptions in their service, Cozumel has seven neighbourhoods without power while the island of Isla Mujeres say 50 per cent of homes are without have no electricity, Latinus reports.

Their preliminary data states that fallen trees, poles and damages to roofs are among the impact of the hurricane conditions this morning.

The airports of Tulum, Cozumel and Cancún, however, were spared by Hurricane Beryl as it ripped through the area, Velázquez Alzúa added, according to The New York Times.

Category 1 Hurricane Beryl continues to weaken further as it moves inland

16:29 , Amelia Neath

Hurricane Beryl, who at one point had maximum sustained winds of 160mph, has almost halved its wind strength, which is now at a maximum sustained 85mph (140km/h) and has dropped down to a Category 1 storm.

Beryl has continued to weaken as it has moved further inland after it made landfall at the Yucatan Peninsula early Friday morning, and is now currently 100 miles east-southeast of Progreso, Mexico.

The Meteorological Service of Mexico has now discontinued all watches and warnings for the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula south of Punta Allen.

A Hurricane Warning is still in place for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Puerto Allen to Cancun, including Cozumel, while a Hurricane Watch is in place for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula north of Cancun to Cabo Catoche.

Mexican officials share first pictures of damage caused by Beryl

16:00 , Amelia Neath

Quintana Roo’s Governor Mara Lezama shared images of Hurricane Beryl’s impact after it made landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula early Friday morning.

While Beryl caused drastic damage and devastation to Caribbean countries such as Grenada’s islands, so far the Category 2 storm has delivered damage to the impacted Mexican region such as a gas station slanting over, toppled trees, debris on the coastline and utility poles crashing down.

Authorities in the area are still warning people to stay indoors as they are still in a ‘red alert,’ while strong winds continue to pass through the region.

Where has Hurricane Beryl already impacted?

15:40 , Amelia Neath

Hurricane Beryl has made landfall in Mexico after tearing through Jamaica and the Windward Islands, bringing devastating winds and storm surges that have destroyed homes and wiped out power.

The storm has weakened slightly to a Category 2 hurricane after it is now packing maximum sustained winds of 100mph (160km/h), yet the National Hurricane Center said it could “reintensify” once Beryl moves back over the Gulf of Mexico.

So far, Beryl has charted a deadly path through Jamaica, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines and near the Cayman Islands destroying buildings and killing at least 10, including one in Jamaica and three in Venezuela where outer rings of the hurricane caused heavy rainfall.

Read more about where Beryl has been here:

Mapped: Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in Mexico as Category 2 storm

AccuWeather forescasters predict that Beryl will make another landfall

15:20 , Amelia Neath

AccuWeather meteorologists said on Friday that they expect Beryl to make another landfall near the Texas and Mexico border Sunday evening to early Monday.

Texas is currently preparing for any potential landfall or impact the hurricane may bring, however the AccuWeather experts said that the changes in forward speed and the angle at which Beryl approaches the coast will determine exactly when it could reach landfall.

“For example, Beryl could stall or turn more to the north, paralleling the coast at the last minute before landfall as steering breezes decrease,” AccuWeather wrote.

The National Hurricane Center has said that interests in northeastern Mexico and southern Texas should closely monitor the progress of Beryl, as they predict the hurricane to emerge over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico tonight and then move northwestward toward northeastern Mexico and southern Texas by the end of the weekend.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister says they were ‘spared the worst'

15:00 , Amelia Neath

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that the island was “spared the worst of Hurricane Beryl,” but that the damage was “still significant.”

Holness told CNN in an interview on Thursday, that the “damage was not what we had expected and so we’re very grateful for that.”

“But there was damage, nonetheless. We had a damage to some coastal infrastructure in southern parishes. We had damage to agriculture and housing in two parishes, Manchester, and St. Elisabeth. We have had some roads cut off a lot. But outside of that, I think Jamaica was spared the worst,” he added.

The Prime Minister added that there had been two deaths registered due to Beryl in the country, and that around 1,000 people remained in shelters, but that telecommunications are now around 70 per cent operational.

“As we begin to put the pieces back together, I encourage Jamaicans to prioritize their safety and support one another,” he wrote on X. “With our collective strength and resilience, we will recover and emerge stronger than before.”

Texas prepares for Beryl after landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula

14:28 , Amelia Neath

Texas is currently preparing for whatever Hurricane Beryl may bring to the state as the hurricane is expected to move toward northeastern Mexico and southern Texas by the end of the weekend after emerging over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico tonight.

Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to increase the readiness level of their state emergency operations center effective at 10am on Friday, July 5.

The Governor has also instructed TDEM to begin readying their state emergency response resources for “potential deployment” ahead of Hurricane Beryl’s potential impact.

“Texas is prepared to quickly deploy all available emergency response resources to assist at-risk communities,” Abbot said.

“As Texans and visitors around the south coastal areas begin to celebrate our nation’s Independence Day, I urge them to make an emergency plan, review hurricane evacuation routes, and continue to monitor weather conditions to ensure the safety of themselves and their loved ones,” he added.

“Texas continues to closely monitor weather conditions to protect the safety and well-being of Texans,” he said.

The resources that are being readied include search and rescue personnel, fire mutual aid system, national guard personnel, highway patrol troopers, the tactical marine unit, aircraft, emergency medical task force and highway maintenance personnel.

Texans are being urged to monitor their local weather forecasts, follow directions of local officials, make emergency plans, review hurricane evacuation routes, build an emergency supplies kit as well as remain aware of flood risks and rip currents.

Shocking aerial photos show widespread devastation as Hurricane Beryl moves through Caribbean

14:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl: Aerial images show before and after of storm’s destruction

See It: Hurricane Beryl barrelling towards Mexico on July 4 before it made landfall on Friday

13:55 , Amelia Neath

In Pictures: Mexico bracing for Hurricane Beryl that has now made landfall

13:24 , Amelia Neath

Hurricane Beryl has now made landfall near Tulum, a popular tourist destination in Mexico, bringing with it hurricane-force winds, storm surge and damaging waves.

In the days before Beryl hit, the Yucatan Peninsula started to prepare for what was to come, after Beryl already killed at least 10 people and brought mass destruction to islands in the Caribbean this week.

Storm shelters were opened, and tourist resorts prepared for the strong winds, as authorities also taped off beaches and thousands of troops were deployed ahead of Beryl.

Hurricane Beryl moves inland after making landfall in Mexico Friday morning

13:13 , Amelia Neath

Beryl’s maximum sustained winds have dropped ever so slightly to 100mphm (160km/h) as the storm moves inland over the Yucatan Peninsula.

The center of the hurricane is expected to cross the northern Yucatan Peninsula today before emerging over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico tonight.

The hurricane is expected to rapidly weaken as it traverses further inland, but will re-intensify once it moves back over the Gulf of Mexico.

ICYMI: Watch as plane flies into the eye of Hurricane Beryl

13:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl makes landfall near popular Mexico tourist resort Tulum

12:23 , Amelia Neath

The center of Hurricane Beryl has made landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula, just northeast of the popular Mexcian tourist area of Tulum at around 6.05am EST Friday morning.

Maximum sustained winds are at 110mph (175mph), meaning Beryl currently stays at a strong Category 2 storm.

Mexico’s tourist destinations on red alert as beaches close and troops deployed

12:17 , Amelia Neath

Mexico’s popular tourist destinations have been put on red alert Thursday night as the Category 2 hurricane moves in after leaving a path of devastation across Caribbean islands.

As Hurricane Beryl is expected to make landfall in the next few hours, Mexico’s top tourist destinations were put on red alert as life-threatening and dangerous weather conditions are due to pass over the area.

A "red alert" called by Mexico’s civil protection agency indicates a threat of maximum hazard from the hurricane, telling people to stay in their homes or at storm shelters, Reuters said.

"Let’s take all measures of prevention and care because the winds and rains will be felt throughout the state. At this time no one should be away from home," Quintana Roo Governor Maya Lezama said.

Police have taped off beaches in Playa del Carmen, while in Quintana Roo, schools have been shut, and around 120 storm shelters were opened by the defense ministry.

More than 8,600 troops from the army, air force and national guard have been deployed in the Yucatan Peninsula to assist and support as Hurricane Beryl draws near, CNN reports.

ICYMI: United Nations dedicates $4 million to aid for Jamaica, eastern Caribbean

12:00 , Katie Hawkinson

The United Nations will put $4 million towards aid efforts in Jamaica, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, the BBC reports.

Earlier this week, the UN said officials in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are working closely with local leaders to help with recovery efforts.

“To date, Grenada and St Vincent’s and the Grenadines have reported hundreds of people in shelters,” a UN spokesperson said.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has asked for the international community to “show solidarity” with all the Caribbean countries in Hurricane Beryl’s path, the spokesperson said.

Beryl has weakened slightly to a strong Category 2 as hurricane closes in to Mexico

11:57 , Amelia Neath

Hurricane Beryl has weakened ever so slightly to a strong Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110mph as it approaches Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

A hurricane needs to sustain at least 111mph to be considered a Category 3 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, making it a major hurricane.

Despite its category, the National Hurricane Center has warned residents who will be impacted to shelter in place while the “life-threatening conditions” pass through the Yucatan Peninsula today.

There is an expectation of hurricane-force winds, dangerous storm surge and heavy rainfall, as well as rip currents that could cause life-threatening beach conditions beginning late today and over the weekend across much of the Gulf Coast.

Hurricane Beryl close to landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula with 110mph winds

11:37 , Amelia Neath

Hurricane Beryl has weakened ever so slightly in its wind speed as is hurtles towards Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, with 110mph maximum sustained winds.

Only 40 miles (65km) east of Tulum in Mexico, Beryl is expected to make landfall in Mexico within the next few hours. The National Hurricane Center warns of storm surge that could raise water levels as much as four to six feet above ground levels along the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, bringing with it large and destructive waves.

Throughout today, weather experts predict rainfall totals of four to six inches, with localized amounts of 10 inches in the area, with scattered instances of flash flooding.

Large swells are already impacting portions of the coast of Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and the Yucatan Peninsula, and are expected to reach eastern Mexico and much of the Gulf Coast of the US by late today.

These swells are predicted to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Mexico’s tourism sector is on high alert

11:17 , Amelia Neath

Hotels, resorts and tour operators in Quintana Roo have activated emergency plans, securing their facilities and preparing their staff for the oncoming dangerous weather that Beryl is set to bring.

Cancun International Airport and other regional airports are also on alert and ready for flight cancellations and diversions, the Tulum Times reports.

Cancun’s airport has already canceled at least 100 flights on Thursday as tourists hurried to try and catch the final flights out of the hurricane zone, Reuters said.

Hurricane Beryl is set to make landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula in the next few hours on Friday morning, with tourist areas like Tulum, under risk of being directly hit.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya to the country’s popular tourist destination Cancun, including Cozumel.

Around 3,000 tourists were evacuated from the island of Isla Mujeres and returned to the mainland near Cancun, the island’s tourism director Jose Magana said.

Meanwhile in Tulum, local residents were lining up to fill up their tanks at the gas station and hotels and tourist complexes were removing loose furniture in time for the strong winds.

Mexico tourist destinations on red alert as beaches close and troops deployed

11:58 , Amelia Neath

Mexico’s popular tourist destinations were put on red alert on Thursday evening as the hurricane heads for Mexico after leaving a path of devastation across Caribbean islands.

The “red alert” called by Mexico’s civil protection agency indicates a threat of maximum hazard from the Category 2 hurricane, telling people to stay in their homes or at storm shelters, Reuters reports.

“Let’s take all measures of prevention and care because the winds and rains will be felt throughout the state. At this time no one should be away from home,” Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama said.

In Playa del Carmen, police have restricted the entrances of breaches with yellow caution tape, while authorities in Quintana Roo closed schools and opened around 120 storm shelters, reports say.

More than 8,600 troops from the army, air force and national guard have also been deployed in the Yucatan Peninsula to assist and support as dangerous and life-threatening weather closes in on the region, CNN says.

ICYMI: Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph posts from Kingston, Jamaica as Hurricane Beryl hits the island

11:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Mexico’s president urges residents in the Tulum area to seek higher ground

10:43 , Amelia Neath

Category 3 Hurricane Beryl is currently 40 miles (65km) east of Tulum in Mexico, a popular Caribbean coast resort, that holds thousands of tourists and residents.

As Beryl edges closer to landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador issued a statement late Thursday saying Beryl may make a direct hit on Tulum.

“It is recommendable that people get to higher ground, shelters or the homes of friends or family elsewhere,” López Obrador wrote. “Don’t hesitate, material possessions can be replaced.”

Every municipality in Quintana Roo state, including Tulum, remains on red alert of “maximum danger,” Governor Mara Lezama said late Thursday night, according to CNN.

“At this moment, no one should be out of their homes,” she said.

Many southern and eastern municipalities in the neighboring Yucatan state are also on red alert, according to Mexico’s national civil protection agency, the outlet said.

Indian cricket team stranded by Hurricane Beryl in Barbados returns home to hero’s welcome

10:00 , Katie Hawkinson

The Indian men’s cricket team arrived to a colourful welcome in capital Delhi on Thursday after being stranded in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl.

Led by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, the men’s team on Sunday won the T20 World Cup against South Africa in a nail-biter that broke a 12-year unsuccessful streak.

The team was eagerly expected after being stranded for three days in the Caribbean nation due to the Category 4 hurricane which passed through Barbados early Monday morning, causing heavy storm and high winds in the region.

The Independent’s Arpan Rai has the story:

Indian cricket team stranded by Hurricane Beryl returns home to hero’s welcome

Conditions worsen in the Yucatan Peninsula as Hurricane Beryl moves in for landfall

09:54 , Amelia Neath

Hurricane Beryl has sustained its status as a Category 3 storm as it barrels toward the Yucatan Peninsula on Friday morning.

The hurricane is around 90 miles (140km) east-southeast of Tulum, Mexico, and is sustaining maximum winds of 115mph (185km/h).

The National Hurricane Center warned in their 1am CDT bulletin that conditions are soon to deteriorate for the Yucatan Peninsula, bringing hurricane-force winds, dangerous storm surge, and damaging waves expected to begin.

Beryl’s center is expected to make landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula later this morning, before emerging over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico tonight, then moving toward northeastern Mexico and southern Texas by the end of the weekend.

As Beryl crosses the Yucatan Peninsula, “rapid weakening” of the hurricane is expected, however, a “slow re-intensification” is also predicted as Beryl moves over the Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane Beryl and the role of climate change

09:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Record-breaking hurricanes like Beryl — the earliest recorded Category 5 storm — are being driven in part by the climate crisis.

“It’s really scary stuff,” Steve Maximay, a climate and agriculture expert in Grenada, previously told The Independent.

”When you talk about Category 4 and 5, there are very few systems or protocols that can prepare you for that,” Maximay continued. “You can have resilient buildings but category five winds can move concrete structures.”

Hurricane Beryl’s growth into a Category 5 storm can be attributed to record-warm ocean temperatures. High water temperatures can contribute to sea level rise and hurt marine life in addition to fueling strong storms like Hurricane Beryl. Ocean temperatures will likely continue to rise even if we curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to NOAA.

Island nations are at the front lines of the climate crisis, given their vulnerability to violent storms and sea-level rise.

The Alliance of Small Island States, an organization designed to create a unified voice for small island nations to address the ongoing climate crisis, denounced the climate crisis and its impact on island nations.

“We continue to be sacrificed on the frontlines of a climate crisis we did not cause,” the statement said. “Our sea temperatures grow warmer, encouraging storms to strengthen at alarming speed and increasing the dire threat to our developing countries. The increased danger is evident for the world to see.”

“If the world does not stand with [Small Island Developing States] now, it is only a matter of time before we are all lost,” the alliance continued.

Sophie Powell, chief of advocacy for the United Kingdom-based non-profit Christian Aid, highlighted the role the climate crisis has played in Hurricane Beryl’s devastation.

“The people picking through the wreckage of such a devastating storm have done nothing to cause the climate crisis,” Powell said in a statement. “The carbon emissions of these small, low-lying islands are miniscule yet the consequences to their lives of climate breakdown are vast.”

Googlebox stars stuck in Jamaica as Hurricane Beryl makes landfall: ‘I want to get out’

08:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Googlebox favorites Julie and Tom Malone have revealed they are stuck in Jamaica as Hurricane Beryl makes landfall.

The Channel 4 couple had oped for some sun and relaxation after jetting off to Jamaica for their summer holiday, but have instead got caught up in the Category 4 hurricane.

Beryl hit Jamaica earlier this week, with life-threatening rain, 145mph winds and storm surge, with the storm knocking down power lines in Portland.

Watch here:

Googlebox stars stuck in Jamaica as Hurricane Beryl strikes: ‘I want to get out’

United Nations dedicates $4 million to aid for Jamaica, eastern Caribbean

07:00 , Katie Hawkinson

The United Nations will put $4 million towards aid efforts in Jamaica, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, the BBC reports.

Earlier this week, the UN said officials in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are working closely with local leaders to help with recovery efforts.

“To date, Grenada and St Vincent’s and the Grenadines have reported hundreds of people in shelters,” a UN spokesperson said.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has asked for the international community to “show solidarity” with all the Caribbean countries in Hurricane Beryl’s path, the spokesperson said.

ICYMI: Satellite imagery shows Hurricane Beryl slamming into Jamaica

06:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Bird’s eye view: Hurricane Beryl pictured from International Space Station

05:01 , Katie Hawkinson

ICYMI: Mexico evacuates sea turtle eggs from beaches ahead of Beryl

04:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Mexican officials evacuated sea turtle eggs from beaches ahead of Hurricane Beryl, the Associated Press reports.

For some eggs, experts transferred them to safer areas. In other cases, they created corrals with sandbags to keep the eggs safe where they were laid, the outlet reports.

“Look, it’s not the best thing to do, but we are facing an emergency in which if they don’t take them out, they all could be lost,” biologist Graciela Tiburcio told the AP.

“In a normal situation this would not be right, because this will surely cause mortality,” Tiburcio continued. “There will be a lower rate of hatched eggs, that is the reality. But it’s also a reality that if the nests are left there, they’ll all be lost.”

Video: When will Hurricane Beryl hit Texas?

03:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl could bring significant rainfall to Texas: meteorologist

02:00 , Katie Hawkinson

AccuWeather Meteorologist Geoff Cornish says Hurricane Beryl could bring four to eight inches of rain to Brownsville, Texas if it hits the region early next week.

“San Antonio and Austin will likely see several inches of rain from Beryl as well,” Cornish said on Thursday.

AccuWeather’s Paul Pastelok warns the storm could stall in the Gulf Coast, driving longer storm conditions.

“There is a chance that this storm may stall once it gets onshore in northern Mexico and southern Texas, which could lead to more rainfall and flooding concerns,” Pastelok said. The National Weather Service said Beryl has the potential to hit Texas on Monday into Tuesday.

For now, the Category 2 storm is set to make landfall on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula in the coming hours.

In pictures: Mexico braces for Hurricane Beryl

01:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl no longer a ‘major’ hurricane

Friday 5 July 2024 00:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl weakened to a Category 2 storm this afternoon, with maximum sustained winds of 110mph.

This means the storm is no longer a “major hurricane,” which is defined as Category 3 and above.

However, it will still bring life-threatening storm conditions to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula — including several popular tourist destinations along the coast — in the coming hours.

‘Life-threatening’ conditions in Yucatan Peninsula overnight as threat to Texas grows

Thursday 4 July 2024 23:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl, now a Category 2 storm, will bring “life-threatening” storm conditions to the Yucatan Peninsula overnight, National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said this afternoon.

The storm is set to hit Texas by early Monday morning.

“We are forecasting some re-strengthening over the Gulf of Mexico as Beryl turns more northwestward and approaches the coast of northeastern Mexico and South Texas,” Brennan said. “We are forecasting it to be at or near hurricane strength by Monday morning, and expecting it to make landfall somewhere in that vicinity.”

Nearby residents should closely monitor the weather forecast and be on high alert for dangerous water conditions in the Gulf Coast over the weekend.

United Nations dedicates $4 million to aid for Jamaica, eastern Caribbean

Thursday 4 July 2024 22:30 , Katie Hawkinson

The United Nations will put $4 million towards aid efforts in Jamaica, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, the BBC reports.

Earlier this week, the UN said officials in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are working closely with local leaders to help with recovery efforts.

“To date, Grenada and St Vincent’s and the Grenadines have reported hundreds of people in shelters,” a UN spokesperson said.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has asked for the international community to “show solidarity” with all the Caribbean countries in Hurricane Beryl’s path, the spokesperson said.

Thursday evening forecast: Hurricane Beryl to make landfall on Yucatan Peninsula within hours

Thursday 4 July 2024 22:03 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl, now a Category 2 storm, will make landfall on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula within hours, the National Weather Service (NWS) said moments ago.

“Damaging winds, a dangerous storm surge and flooding rainfall are expected,” the NWS said.

The storm will move toward the Gulf Coast over the weekend, where it will create dangerous rip currents. The hurricane is likely to hit southern Texas early next week, forecasters say.

Googlebox stars stuck in Jamaica as Hurricane Beryl makes landfall: ‘I want to get out’

Thursday 4 July 2024 21:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Googlebox favorites Julie and Tom Malone have revealed they are stuck in Jamaica as Hurricane Beryl makes landfall.

The Channel 4 couple had oped for some sun and relaxation after jetting off to Jamaica for their summer holiday, but have instead got caught up in the Category 4 hurricane.

Beryl hit Jamaica earlier this week, with life-threatening rain, 145mph winds and storm surge, with the storm knocking down power lines in Portland.

Watch here:

Googlebox stars stuck in Jamaica as Hurricane Beryl strikes: ‘I want to get out’

Video: When will Hurricane Beryl hit Texas?

Thursday 4 July 2024 21:17 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl no longer a ‘major’ hurricane

Thursday 4 July 2024 20:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl weakened to a Category 2 storm this afternoon, with maximum sustained winds of 110mph.

This means the storm is no longer a “major hurricane,” which is defined as Category 3 and above.

However, it will still bring life-threatening storm conditions to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula — including several popular tourist destinations along the coast — within the next day.

Jamaica reels from Hurricane Beryl

Thursday 4 July 2024 20:10 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl destroyed several buildings and left 400,000 customers without power in Jamaica on Wednesday.

Several roadways in the country’s interior settlements were impacted by fallen trees and utility poles, Jamaican officials said, while some communities in the northern section and the capital were without electricity.

“It’s terrible. Everything’s gone. I’m in my house and scared,” resident Amoy Wellington told Reuters. “It’s a disaster.”

While storm surge will gradually dwindle in the coming hours, Jamaica will still see heavy rain and potential flooding throughout the day.

Some 1,000 people were in hurricane shelters on Wednesday as the storm, now a Category 3, battered the nation.

Hurricane Beryl is now expected to make landfall on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula within the next day.

Hurricane Beryl death toll rises to ten

Thursday 4 July 2024 19:50 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl has killed at least ten people after devastating Jamaica, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines this week.

At least two of those killed — the first in St George’s, Grenada and the second in Hanover, Jamaica — died after hurricane-force winds knocked trees onto their homes.

“It’s terrible. Everything’s gone. I’m in my house and scared,” Amoy Wellington of St. Elizabeth, Jamaica told Reuters. “It’s a disaster.”

Hurricane Beryl caused widespread destruction in Jamaica, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines this week.

The storm left 400,000 customers in Jamaica without power on Wednesday after flattening Grenada’s Carriacou Island in half an hour on Monday.

‘Life-threatening’ conditions in Yucatan Peninsula overnight as threat to Texas grows

Thursday 4 July 2024 19:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl, now a Category 2 storm, will bring “life-threatening” storm conditions to the Yucatan Peninsula overnight, National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan said minutes ago.

The storm is set to hit Texas by early Monday morning.

“We are forecasting some re-strengthening over the Gulf of Mexico as Beryl turns more northwestward and approaches the coast of northeastern Mexico and South Texas,” Brennan said. “We are forecasting it to be at or near hurricane strength by Monday morning, and expecting it to make landfall somewhere in that vicinity.”

Nearby residents should closely monitor the weather forecast and be on high alert for dangerous water conditions in the Gulf Coast over the weekend.

Hurricane Warning ended in Cayman Islands

Thursday 4 July 2024 19:20 , Katie Hawkinson

The National Weather Service has ended Hurricane Warnings for the Cayman Islands as Beryl passes through the region.

Hurricane Beryl is now on its way to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

See it: Hurricane Beryl lashes Montego Bay, Jamaica

Thursday 4 July 2024 19:10 , Katie Hawkinson

Indian cricket team stranded by Hurricane Beryl in Barbados returns home to hero’s welcome

Thursday 4 July 2024 18:50 , Katie Hawkinson

The Indian men’s cricket team arrived to a colourful welcome in capital Delhi on Thursday after being stranded in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl.

Led by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, the men’s team on Sunday won the T20 World Cup against South Africa in a nail-biter that broke a 12-year unsuccessful streak.

The team was eagerly expected after being stranded for three days in the Caribbean nation due to the Category 4 hurricane which passed through Barbados early Monday morning, causing heavy storm and high winds in the region.

The Independent’s Arpan Rai has the story:

Indian cricket team stranded by Hurricane Beryl returns home to hero’s welcome

Hurricane Beryl and the role of climate change

Thursday 4 July 2024 18:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Record-breaking hurricanes like Beryl — the earliest recorded Category 5 storm — are being driven in part by the climate crisis.

“It’s really scary stuff,” Steve Maximay, a climate and agriculture expert in Grenada, previously told The Independent.

”When you talk about Category 4 and 5, there are very few systems or protocols that can prepare you for that,” Maximay continued. “You can have resilient buildings but category five winds can move concrete structures.”

Hurricane Beryl’s growth into a Category 5 storm can be attributed to record-warm ocean temperatures. High water temperatures can contribute to sea level rise and hurt marine life in addition to fueling strong storms like Hurricane Beryl. Ocean temperatures will likely continue to rise even if we curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to NOAA.

Island nations are at the front lines of the climate crisis, given their vulnerability to violent storms and sea-level rise.

The Alliance of Small Island States, an organization designed to create a unified voice for small island nations to address the ongoing climate crisis, denounced the climate crisis and its impact on island nations.

“We continue to be sacrificed on the frontlines of a climate crisis we did not cause,” the statement said. “Our sea temperatures grow warmer, encouraging storms to strengthen at alarming speed and increasing the dire threat to our developing countries. The increased danger is evident for the world to see.”

“If the world does not stand with [Small Island Developing States] now, it is only a matter of time before we are all lost,” the alliance continued.

Sophie Powell, chief of advocacy for the United Kingdom-based non-profit Christian Aid, highlighted the role the climate crisis has played in Hurricane Beryl’s devastation.

“The people picking through the wreckage of such a devastating storm have done nothing to cause the climate crisis,” Powell said in a statement. “The carbon emissions of these small, low-lying islands are miniscule yet the consequences to their lives of climate breakdown are vast.”

Video: Googlebox stars stuck in Jamaica as Hurricane Beryl makes landfall

Thursday 4 July 2024 18:10 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl could bring significant rainfall to Texas: meteorologist

Thursday 4 July 2024 17:50 , Katie Hawkinson

AccuWeather Meteorologist Geoff Cornish says Hurricane Beryl could bring four to eight inches of rain to Brownsville, Texas if it hits the region early next week.

“San Antonio and Austin will likely see several inches of rain from Beryl as well,” Cornish said.

AccuWeather’s Paul Pastelok warns the storm could stall in the Gulf Coast, driving longer storm conditions.

“There is a chance that this storm may stall once it gets onshore in northern Mexico and southern Texas, which could lead to more rainfall and flooding concerns,” Pastelok said. The National Weather Service said Beryl has the potential to hit Texas on Monday into Tuesday.

For now, the Category 3 storm is blowing through the Cayman Islands on its way to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

In pictures: Mexico braces for Hurricane Beryl

Thursday 4 July 2024 17:30 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl has potential to hit Texas on Monday

Thursday 4 July 2024 17:16 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl could hit Texas by early Monday morning, the National Weather Service forecast on Thursday morning.

Regardless of its exact path, the Category 3 storm will create life-threatening rip currents in the Gulf Coast this weekend.

The impact on Texas will become clearer in the coming days. Officials say residents should remain on high alert and monitor their local weather forecast.

Jamaica reels from Hurricane Beryl

Thursday 4 July 2024 17:05 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl destroyed several buildings and left 400,000 customers without power in Jamaica on Wednesday.

Several roadways in the country’s interior settlements were impacted by fallen trees and utility poles, Jamaican officials said, while some communities in the northern section and the capital were without electricity.

“It’s terrible. Everything’s gone. I’m in my house and scared,” resident Amoy Wellington told Reuters. “It’s a disaster.”

While storm surge will gradually dwindle in the coming hours, Jamaica will still see heavy rain and potential flooding throughout the day.

Some 1,000 people were in hurricane shelters on Wednesday as the storm, now a Category 3, battered the nation.

Hurricane Beryl is now on a path to the Cayman Islands in the coming hours. It is expected to hit Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula within the next day as well.

Shocking aerial photos show widespread devastation as Hurricane Beryl moves through Caribbean

Thursday 4 July 2024 16:54 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl: Aerial images show before and after of storm’s destruction

Video: Hurricane Beryl devastates Jamaica

Thursday 4 July 2024 16:32 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl’s potential impact on Texas

Thursday 4 July 2024 17:11 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl has the potential to hit southern Texas by early Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Regardless of its exact track, the hurricane will likely bring life-threatening rip currents to the Gulf Coast this weekend.

The Category 3 storm’s path will become clearer in the coming days. For now, meteorologists say residents of the Gulf Coast region should stay on alert and monitor the forecast over the weekend.

Hurricane Beryl death toll rises to ten

Thursday 4 July 2024 16:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl has killed at least ten people after devastating Jamaica, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines this week.

At least two of those killed — the first in St George’s, Grenada and the second in Hanover, Jamaica — died after hurricane-force winds knocked trees onto their homes.

“It’s terrible. Everything’s gone. I’m in my house and scared,” Amoy Wellington of St. Elizabeth told Reuters. “It’s a disaster.”

Hurricane Beryl caused widespread destruction in Jamaica, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines this week.

The storm left 400,000 people in Jamaica without power on Wednesday after flattening Grenada’s Carriacou Island in half an hour on Monday.

Mapped: Hurricane Beryl powers through Caribbean islands as Category 3 storm

Thursday 4 July 2024 15:45 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl is barreling towards Mexico and possibly the US, after tearing through Jamaica and the Windward Islands, bringing devastating winds and storm surges that have destroyed homes, wiped out power, and left at least eight people dead.

The storm continues to be a “major hurricane” after it got downgraded to Category 3 hurricane on Thursday morning, packing maximum sustained winds of 120mph (195kph).

See Hurricane Beryl’s path:

Mapped: Hurricane Beryl powers through Caribbean islands as Category 3 storm

Indian cricket team stranded by Hurricane Beryl in Barbados returns home to hero’s welcome

Thursday 4 July 2024 15:30 , Katie Hawkinson

The Indian men’s cricket team arrived to a colourful welcome in capital Delhi on Thursday after being stranded in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl.

Led by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, the men’s team on Sunday won the T20 World Cup against South Africa in a nail-biter that broke a 12-year unsuccessful streak.

The team was eagerly expected after being stranded for three days in the Caribbean nation due to the Category 4 hurricane which passed through Barbados early Monday morning, causing heavy storm and high winds in the region.

The Independent’s Arpan Rai has the story:

Indian cricket team stranded by Hurricane Beryl returns home to hero’s welcome

Mexico evacuates sea turtle eggs from beaches ahead of Beryl

Thursday 4 July 2024 15:15 , Katie Hawkinson

Mexican officials are evacuating sea turtle eggs from beaches ahead of Hurricane Beryl’s expected overnight, the Associated Press reports.

For some eggs, experts are transferring them to safer areas. In other cases, experts are creating corrals with sandbags to keep the eggs safe where they were laid, the outlet reports.

“Look, it’s not the best thing to do, but we are facing an emergency in which if they don’t take them out, they all could be lost,” biologist Graciela Tiburcio told the AP.

“In a normal situation this would not be right, because this will surely cause mortality,” Tiburcio continued. “There will be a lower rate of hatched eggs, that is the reality. But it’s also a reality that if the nests are left there, they’ll all be lost.”

United Nations dedicates $4 million to aid for Jamaica, eastern Caribbean

Thursday 4 July 2024 14:45 , Katie Hawkinson

The United Nations will put $4 million towards aid efforts in Jamaica, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, the BBC reports.

Earlier this week, the UN said officials in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are working closely with local leaders to help with recovery efforts.

“To date, Grenada and St Vincent’s and the Grenadines have reported hundreds of people in shelters,” a UN spokesperson said.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has asked for the international community to “show solidarity” with all the Caribbean countries in Hurricane Beryl’s path, the spokesperson said.

Mexico braces for Hurricane Beryl’s impact as the storm hurls towards the Yucatan Peninsula

Thursday 4 July 2024 14:19 , Amelia Neath

Business owners and citizens in portions of Mexico are bracing for Hurricane Beryl’s impact as the dangerous storm barrels towards the Yucatan Peninsula.

“A westward to west-northwestward motion is expected during the next day or two, taking the core of Beryl away from the Cayman Islands this morning and over the Yucatan Peninsula early Friday. Beryl is expected to emerge over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico Friday night and turn northwestward,” the National Hurricane Center wrote in their most recent advisory.

The hurricane is currently passing southwest of the Cayman Islands, and is forecast to weaken during the next day or two, although it is thought to remain a hurricane until it makes landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula.

A Hurricane Warning is currently in effect for Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, including Cozumel.

A Hurricane Watch is also in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico south of Puerto Costa Maya to Chetumal and the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico north of Cancun to Cabo Catoche.

Hurricane conditions are expected in the Warning area on the Yucatan Peninsula late today or early Friday.

In the Watch area, hurricane conditions are possible along the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula as early as late today.

Tropical Storm Watches and Warnings are also in place for some areas of Mexico and Belize.

See it: Hurricane Beryl pictured from the International Space Station

Thursday 4 July 2024 14:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Damaged fishing boats sinking in port after Hurricane Beryl lashes Barbados

Thursday 4 July 2024 13:47 , Amelia Neath

Barbados was caught in the tail end of Hurricane Beryl, which passed by the island on Monday as a Category 4 storm with winds of at least 130mph, enough to cause significant damage.

Fishermen in the region said that all the boats at the Bridgetown marina suffered some degree of damage, while a few entirely sank under big waves that washed over the docks. Footage shows the water in the marina littered with the debris of smashed boats.

Beryl remains a Category 3 hurricane as it passes southwest of Grand Cayman

Thursday 4 July 2024 13:22 , Amelia Neath

The center of Hurricane Beryl, remaining a dangerous Category 3 storm, is passing just 50 miles (80km) southwest of Grand Cayman as of 8am EDT this morning.

Reports from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft states that maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph (195 km/h) with higher gusts as Beryl tears into the region.

Beryl’s hurricane-force winds are currently extending outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km).

Storm surges could raise water levels along the immediate coast of the Cayman Islands as much as two to four feet above normal, bringing with it large and destructive waves.

Beryl is also bringing rainfall totals of four to six inches over the Cayman Islands on Thursday, the same expected for the Yucatan Peninsula later today into Friday. The Yucatan Peninsula could see localized amounts of 10 inches as well.

Scattered instances of flash flooding is expected over the region and large surf swells currently impacting portions of the coast of Jamaica, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands, which have the potential to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

These swells are also predicted to spread to the Yucatan Peninsula and portions of Central America later today and to eastern Mexico and much of the Gulf Coast of the US by late Friday

Preparations were already underway before the hurricane reached the Cayman Islands, after Beryl already left a path of destruction it its wake this week through Jamaica, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

More than 1,000 people in the Cayman Islands were evacuated, George Town officials said, as two dozen additional flights were added to help with the evacuations off the islands, The New York Times reported.

Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly appeared on Radio Cayman on Wednesday, according to the newspaper, and strongly urged residents to stay in place beginning at 6pm Wednesday until an all-clear was issued.

“Let us remain calm, stay prepared, look after one another as we face this challenge together,” she said. “We can minimize the impact of Hurricane Beryl and protect our community if we do it together.”

Shocking aerial photos show widespread devastation as Hurricane Beryl moves through Caribbean

Thursday 4 July 2024 13:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl: Aerial images show before and after of storm’s destruction

What hurricanes has Jamaica experienced before?

Thursday 4 July 2024 12:59 , Amelia Neath

After Hurricane Beryl passed near Jamaica on Wednesday, its hurricane conditions brought destruction to homes, power outages and the confirmed death of at least one person.

However, the island is no stranger to the wrath of deadly hurricanes ripping through the region.

While many hurricanes have passed near Jamaica in recent years, only a few have actually made landfall in the country in the past 40 years.

The most notable hurricane was one named Gilbert, which made landfall near Kingston, Jamaica on September 12, 1988 as a Category 4 hurricane, and remains an infamous storm event in the country.

The catastrophic storm sustained winds of 130mph, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and leading to the deaths of at least 45 people.

The eye of Hurricane Gilbert barrelled its way across the entire island of Jamaica, only weakening back to 125 mph by the time it emerged from its western coast by late afternoon.

Other notable hurricanes that significantly hit Jamaica include Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall in 2012 as a Category 1 hurricane.

Areas of Mexico and Texas told to monitor the progress of Beryl: Map

Thursday 4 July 2024 12:22 , Amelia Neath2

The National Hurricane Center has said there is uncertainty in the track and intensity forecast of Beryl over the western Gulf of Mexico this weekend.

Interests in eastern Mexico and southern Texas should monitor Beryl’s progress, yet regardless of what path the hurricane takes, rip currents could cause life-threatening beach conditions beginning late Friday and through the weekend across much of the Gulf Coast.

Meanwhile, hurricane-force winds, dangerous storm surge and heavy rainfall is expected over portions of the Yucatan Peninsula and Belize beginning Thursday night as Beryl approaches, with strong winds, dangerous storm surge, damaging waves and flooding expected in the Cayman Islands today.

Laura Velazquez, the head of Mexico’s civil defence agency said the hurricane is expected to make landfall along a relatively unpopulated stretch of the Caribbean coast between Tulum and the inland town of Felipe Carrillo Puerto.

Because the coast there is largely made up of lagoons and mangroves, there are few resorts or hotels in the area south of Tulum.

Ms Velazquez said that Beryl is then expected to hit Mexican territory a second time in the Gulf coast states of Veracruz or Tamaulipas, near the Texas border.

If Hurricane Beryl maintains its strength, it has the potential to hit southern Texas and Louisiana over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Read the story:

Mapped: Hurricane Beryl powers through Caribbean islands as Category 3 storm

Satellite imagery: Hurricane Beryl’s eyewall slams into the southern coast of Jamaica.

Thursday 4 July 2024 12:00 , Katie Hawkinson

Indian cricket team stranded by Hurricane Beryl in Barbados returns home to hero’s welcome

Thursday 4 July 2024 11:55 , Amelia Neath

The Indian men’s cricket team arrived to a colourful welcome in capital Delhi on Thursday after being stranded in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl.

The team was eagerly expected after being stranded for three days in the Caribbean nation due to the Category 4 hurricane which passed through Barbados early Monday morning, causing heavy storm and high winds in the region.

Despite overcast weather in Delhi, the mood on the team’s arrival from Barbados was lifted by dhol beats, flower bouquets and cakes bearing the winning team’s photos.

Read the full story:

Indian cricket team stranded by Hurricane Beryl returns home to hero’s welcome