Beryl is threatening to bring extremely dangerous winds and storm surge to the Windward Islands. The storm has sustained winds of 130 mph, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
The hurricane slammed into a Grenada island just after 11 a.m. ET on Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center, with winds just below Category 5 status.
The NWS earlier warned of the highest risk being in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada, saying the storm would bring “[p]otentially catastrophic hurricane-force winds, a life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves.”
As the storm moves west through the southern Caribbean, it is expected to bring strong winds and waves to the south coasts of the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba. It is currently forecast to make landfall in Cancun, Mexico, as a tropical storm Friday.
“Beryl has rapidly intensified into a dangerous major hurricane. It’s rare to see a storm rapidly intensify this fast, this early in the season, in this part of the Atlantic,” AccuWeather hurricane forecaster Alex DaSilva said in a statement. “Several islands across the Lower Antilles are facing an extreme risk to lives and property.”
The White House said in a statement Monday afternoon that President Biden and aides were closely monitoring the storm and remain in touch with local officials.
“The President stands ready to support the people of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the region as needed, and will work to ensure the safety of all U.S. citizens in the region,” the White House said.
