Hurricane Beryl, a dangerous Category 3 storm, is expected to make landfall in the southern part of the Caribbean islands on Monday, as weather authorities warned of life-threatening winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfall.
Strong winds blow as Hurricane Beryl approaches Bridgetown, Barbados.
According to the National Hurricane Center’s (NHC) latest advisory on Monday, maximum sustained wind speeds of 120 mph “with higher gusts” were reported, as Beryl was centered about 110 miles southeast of Barbados.
The advisory warned of hurricane-force winds extending up to 30 miles out from the storm’s center.
Beryl is expected to make landfall early on Monday across the Caribbean region’s Windward Islands and a hurricane warning is in effect for Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands, Grenada and Tobago.
While Beryl’s strength may fluctuate after landfall, the NHC warned it is “expected to remain a dangerous major hurricane,” as its core moves through the island countries.
The forecast warns of “catastrophic wind damage” along areas in the path of the hurricane’s core, with St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada likely bearing the brunt.
Authorities also warned of storm surges 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels and 3 to 6 inches across Barbados and the Windward Islands.
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111 mph. That is the minimum sustained wind speed for a hurricane classified as Category 3 under the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. According to the NHC, a category 3 storm can cause “devastating damage,” affecting even well-built frame homes, uprooting trees and causing power outages that can last several days to weeks.