AIRLINES have been forced to cancel flights across a number of holiday islands popular with Brits this week. A weather warning has been issued across the Caribbean ahead of Hurricane Beryl, with winds set to hit 130mph. The US National Hurricane Center warned of "potentially catastrophic hurricane-force winds, a life-threatening storm surge and damaging waves are expected.
” Hurricane Beryl is a category 4 hurricane, the first of it's kind to be recorded in that intensity this early in the season. AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Forecaster Alex DaSilva told the BBC : "It’s rare to see a storm rapidly intensify this fast, this early in the season, in this part of the Atlantic." The main islands at risk are Barbados , Dominica and Grenada although warnings are in place across other islands.
Most Brits head to the Caribbean islands during the winter months, with the islands' hurricane season running from June to November. However, a number of UK airlines operate routes to and from the islands all year round. Barbados Airport has been shut down until further notice, with a curfew imposed in the city from 6pm.
In response, Virgin Atlantic has been forced to cancel a number of flights from the UK, including routes from London Heathrow to Barbados and St Vincent. And British Airways has been forced to cancel flights from London Gatwick to St Lucia and Georgetown as well as London Heathrow to Barbados. A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “Due to forecast adverse weather conditions e.
