Janice R. Andrews
As it gets closer to Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, Hurricane Beryl has grown again to a Category 3 storm, according to forecasters on Thursday. It is anticipated that the hurricane would produce strong gusts and a storm surge as high as six feet.
Mortality Count and Damage
Nine fatalities have already been attributed to Hurricane Beryl in Venezuela, Jamaica, and the Windward Islands, which include Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. According to local officials, the hurricane severely damaged a large number of homes in Grenada and St. Vincent.
Yucatán Peninsula Hurricane Warning
There is a hurricane warning in effect for the Yucatán Peninsula, and hurricane-force winds are predicted to start overnight and last through Friday. Up to 10 inches of rain are expected, and the peninsula may experience flash flooding, according to forecasters.
The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has advised locals to relocate to higher ground or find other safety. “Don’t hesitate; material possessions can be retrieved. Life is what matters most,” he stated on Thursday night on X, formerly Twitter.
Storm Progression and Forecasts
On Thursday, the storm had first dropped to a Category 2, but it then strengthened to a Category 3. Hurricane Beryl reached 115 mph maximum sustained winds by 10 p.m. The whole Yucatán Peninsula coast of Mexico, including the island of Cozumel, is currently under hurricane warnings, extending from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancún.
It is expected to land on Friday early. However, the peninsula is anticipated to be affected before then by strong winds and waves from the major storm. The National Hurricane Centre states that after making landfall, the storm will weaken, reach the Gulf of Mexico on Friday night, and then acquire some power before moving towards southern Texas or northern Mexico.
Formation and Strength of Records-Breaking
Beryl, the hurricane, broke multiple records. Scientists observe that when sea surface temperatures rise owing to climate change, the process of rapid intensification is occurring more frequently. Beryl formed as the first-ever Category 4 hurricane in June and the first storm of the Atlantic hurricane season overall. This record was previously held by Hurricane Dennis, which formed on July 8, 2005. Earlier this week, Beryl developed into a Category 5 storm with gusts as high as 165 mph, making it the fiercest hurricane to ever be recorded in July.
Affecting Travel
Travellers from the United States in Mexico are preparing for the hurricane and praying that it won’t cause as much damage as predicted. Aircraft entering and departing the area have been cancelled. Currently staying at an all-inclusive resort in Cancún, some 40 miles north of Tulum, where Beryl is projected to make landfall early Friday, are tourists like Stae and Wallace Hall of Fort Worth, Texas.
On Thursday, Stae Hall told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth, “The wind is picking up just a little.” “Some of the cabanas off the beaches and some of the light posts are being taken down.”
We’re scared about the hurricane, not just for us but for everyone who is travelling, Anita Luis, a tourist from Dallas, Texas, told Reuters. We’re merely stuck here, but all we want is to return home safely and pray for everyone else.
Safety Tips and Recommendations
Resorts in the vicinity have started to take safety precautions. The Halls, for instance, claimed that the Mexican government had ordered their hotel to stop providing alcohol. Stae Hall remarked, “I just have to acknowledge that I have no control.” “Enter the state of prayer. We’re going to head up to the buffet, get some fruit and snacks, maybe play some games, and attempt to act like nothing is going on.
Residents and visitors are asked to be informed, heed official cautions, and put safety above material belongings as Hurricane Beryl approaches. The storm is coming, so being ready is essential.
