Powerful Hurricane Beryl barreled towards Jamaica on Tuesday (June 2) as the 2024 Atlantic season's first hurricane and the earliest storm on record to reach the strongest possible ranking: Category 5.

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Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently amid rising sea-levels and increasing temperatures.

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Hurricane Beryl has shattered records as it moves through the Caribbean. Recently, it became the earliest storm on record to reach a Category 5 ranking, the strongest classification for a hurricane. This follows its previous achievement of becoming the first Category 4 Atlantic storm to form in June.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has highlighted a potentially extraordinary 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. Projections indicate up to 25 named storms and 13 hurricanes, significantly higher than the average of 14 named storms and 7 hurricanes. Scientists attribute this to human-caused climate change and cyclical weather patterns leading to record-breaking sea temperatures.

Category 5 hurricanes bring winds of at least 157 miles per hour, capable of causing catastrophic destruction. The World Meteorological Organization spokesperson, Claire Nellis, emphasized that the warm sea temperatures are a cause for concern, particularly for small Caribbean islands unaccustomed to such powerful storms. 

Hurricane Beryl is the first Category 5 storm to hit the southeastern Caribbean in two decades. After making landfall on small islands in the eastern Caribbean, it is forecasted to impact Jamaica, where it could bring heavy rainfall. It is also expected to affect the southern coasts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.



Beryl sets tone for 'very dangerous hurricane season'

Hurricane Beryl is breaking records as it tears through the Caribbean. Over the weekend, it became the first Category 4 storm to ever form in the Atlantic in the month of June. On Tuesday, it became the earliest storm on record to reach Category 5, the strongest possible ranking. Scientists say that all points to a very dangerous hurricane season ahead. Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean typically lasts from June through November, peaking in late summer. On average, it produces 14 named storms, of which half become hurricanes. But the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has warned of an extraordinary 2024 Atlantic season. We could see up to 25 named storms instead and 13 hurricanes. Scientists blame record-breaking sea temperatures driven by human-caused climate change and cyclical weather patterns. A Category 5 is the strongest hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, bringing winds of 157 miles per hour or higher, capable of causing catastrophic damage, including the destruction of homes and infrastructure. The 2nd of July, we do not normally talk about Category 5 hurricanes in July. World Meteorological Organization spokesperson Claire Nellis. So we've got very, very warm waters, and we need to bear in mind that it only takes one landfalling hurricane to set back decades of development. And we fear what is happening with Hurricane Beryl, which has hit very, very, very small islands in the Caribbean who are not used to this size of hurricane. You know, we fear that this is going to have a major knock on socioeconomic development. Since 1960, only 30 Atlantic hurricanes have reached Category 5. The most recorded in a single season was four, and that was in 2005, the year Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. Beryl is the strongest storm to hit the southeastern Caribbean in two decades. It made landfall on small islands in the eastern Caribbean on Monday. It's currently forecast to barrel over the Caribbean island of Jamaica on Wednesday, where it could dump as much as 12 inches of rain, skimming the Dominican Republic and Haiti along the southern coast of the island of Española.

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Hurricane Beryl pounded Jamaica with heavy rains and 200 km/h winds, knocking out power to much of the capital. Now churning toward Mexico, Beryl has already killed at least nine people and caused widespread destruction across the eastern Caribbean.

Hurricane Beryl: Jamaica hit by powerful storm

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Hurricane Beryl surged over Jamaica Wednesday evening as a powerful Category 4 hurricane before heading to the Cayman Islands. Beryl has been blamed for at least six deaths in the Caribbean.

Hurricane Beryl

Hurricane Beryl batters Jamaica as Category 4

Hurricane Beryl struck Union Island, part of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, overnight, leaving nearly everyone homeless. Grenada also faces devastation and communication systems are down after Beryl made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane. Jamaica is preparing for Beryl's approach, with residents urged to evacuate vulnerable areas.

Hurricane Beryl churns toward Jamaica as Category 4

Hurricane Beryl is roaring through the Caribbean, causing havoc on several islands. At least six people have died, including three in Grenada, and one in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

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After devastating parts of the southeast Caribbean, Hurricane Beryl churned toward Jamaica as a monstrous storm. While the extent of the damage so far is unclear, authorities have said the picture on some islands is grim, with widespread destruction.

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Widespread destruction across Jamaica after Storm Beryl

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Hurricane Beryl barreled towards Jamaica as a powerful Category 5 storm on Tuesday after making landfall on smaller islands in the Caribbean, downing power lines, causing flash flooding and reportedly killing two people.

Hurricane Beryl leaves trail of destruction across Caribbean

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Hurricane Beryl 'extremely dangerous' as it gains strength

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Hurricane Beryl has become an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm in the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to bring life-threatening winds and flash flooding to the Caribbean's Windward Islands as it rapidly strengthens into Monday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) says.

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