The hurricane, deemed “extremely dangerous,” hit land around 11:10 a.m. local time as the hurricane center warned of potentially deadly winds that could result in “catastrophic damage.” Urging residents to take immediate action to protect their lives, the center issued a statement on Monday. Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell also emphasized the importance of seeking shelter and observing the curfew in place from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., which closed schools, businesses, and the airport.
At a press conference on Monday, Mitchell reported widespread destruction in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, stating that Carriacou was flattened within a short span of thirty minutes. Houses lost roofs, power lines fell, and the majority of the archipelago was left without electricity, with Grenada recording a 95 percent outage. Although there have been no casualties reported yet, the situation remains uncertain.
Hurricane Beryl rapidly intensified from a category 1 to a category 4 storm in less than 10 hours, marking it as the most powerful hurricane to pass through the Grenadines since records began in 1851. Being the first hurricane of the season, Beryl’s size and strength are unprecedented for this time of year. The hurricane season in the United States typically runs from June to late November.
Experts like Jim Kossin noted that the ocean’s warm temperatures, characteristic of peak hurricane season, contributed to Beryl’s rapid intensification. Kossin emphasized that climate change likely played a role in the storm’s exceptional strength, as warm ocean waters fuel intense hurricanes. NOAA had predicted an active hurricane season, expecting four to seven Category 3 or higher hurricanes to occur.
Prior to landfall, hurricane warnings were issued for various Caribbean islands including Barbados, Saint Lucia, Grenada, and others. These islands were bracing for life-threatening winds and storm surges, placing residents in imminent danger. As the hurricane continues toward Jamaica and potentially Mexico, it poses a significant threat to these regions as well.