“We have never seen such a strong hurricane this early in the season” – so says Colin McCarthy , an extreme weather scientist, about Hurricane Beryl . The Category 3 hurricane battered Jamaica and is heading towards Cayman Islands . Beryl has already caused severe damage in some of the eastern islands: flattening buildings, cutting off power and water, and killing up to seven people.
Hurricane Beryl has been bringing 140mph winds and continuous rain and causing severe damage. At 11pm on Wednesday night, Eastern Daylight Time, the US National Hurricane Service said: “Devastating hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves are expected to continue in Jamaica for a few more hours and spread into the Cayman Islands.” A map with estimated timings shows the Cayman Islands likely to be hit from around 2am EDT on Thursday, with western Cuba to be struck a few hours later.
At 5am on Thursday morning, the National Hurricane Service added: “Weather deteriorating in the Cayman Islands with strong winds, dangerous storm surge, and damaging waves expected there later this morning.” Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is in line for the hurricane at around 8pm on Thursday, local time. “These will quickly increase to near hurricane strength as the centre of Beryl remains close to the island throughout the day.
” In the US, President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the situation, with those in the region urged to follow the advice of local offic.
