Beryl Intensifies to Category 4 Hurricane With 130 MPH Sustained Winds

Beryl Intensifies to Category 4 Hurricane With 130 MPH Sustained Winds
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons/NOAA)

The public should be wary as hurricane Beryl is expected to wreak havoc on its path.

Hurricane Beryl Intensifies to Category 4

Beryl became a hurricane on Saturday. It was expected to intensify, and experts were right because it already had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph a day later. It is considered an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm. According to them, it has brought life-threatening winds and storm surges to the Caribbean.

With 55 mph growth in only the 24 hours leading up to Sunday morning, the hurricane is intensifying swiftly. Major storms frequently experience intensity fluctuations in favorable conditions, and Beryl is predicted to experience strength fluctuations for the next day or so. Beryl will likely continue to be a deadly storm even after landfall in the Windward Islands.

The National Storm Center had already warned that the hurricane was expected to become an "extremely dangerous hurricane" before it landed in Barbados and the Windward Islands late Sunday or early Monday. At the time, Beryl was only Category 1.

If Major Hurricane Beryl stays on track, she will bring a lot of rainfall that could trigger flash flooding. In this video, The Weather Channel (U.S.) highlights the critical dangers of flash floods and provides essential tips on what you should and should not do to stay safe. pic.twitter.com/UatIOJ79t4
— Weather Jamaica (@weatherjamaica) July 1, 2024

⚠️ NOAA has released a forecast cone for the system expected to develop into Hurricane Beryl. The cone shows potential paths and areas that could be affected over the weekend. Keep an eye on updates for changes in the storm's track and intensity. #TaurusFlood #FloodInsurance pic.twitter.com/ikaJ8ZmMKQ
— Taurus Flood (@TaurusFlood) June 28, 2024

Hurricane Categories Explained

A hurricane's intensity can be classified into five categories. The SAFFIR-SIMPSON Hurricane Scale was used to derive these categories, presented below, along with the expected wind speeds and probable damage.

Category 1

Winds range from 74 to 95 mph. The most common areas of damage are shrubs, tree foliage, shoddy workmanship, and unanchored mobile homes. Storm surges four to five feet above mean sea level.

Category 2

Winds range from 96 to 110 mph- significant harm to the foliage of trees and shrubs. A few trees were toppled. Considerable damage to shoddy constructions and minor damage to other buildings (such as roofing material) resulted from a storm surge six to eight feet above normal tide levels. Rising sea levels cut off low-lying escape routes and coastal roads seven to eight hours before the hurricane's center arrives. Significant damage to inundated marinas and piers.

Category 3

Winds range from 111 to 130 mph. Trees are shorn off their leaves, and the wind brings down big trees. Items of poor construction were destroyed; windows, doors, and roofing materials were predicted to sustain damage. Rising water blocks low-lying evacuation routes nine to ten hours before the hurricane center arrives. Significant beach erosion necessitated mass evacuation of all homes within 500 yards of the beach and all single-story low-lying homes within two miles of the shore.

Category 4

Winds may range between 131 and 155 mph. Trees, shrubs, and signs toppled. Extensive damage to doors, windows, and roofing materials. Roofs on numerous modest homes completely collapsed. Significant damage from flooding and the pounding of waves and debris on lower floors of buildings close to the coast.

Category 5

Winds are higher than 155 mph winds. Severe damage is expected from the complete failure of roofs on residential and commercial buildings and extensive glass breakage in windows and doors. Small buildings could be blown away or flipped. It might be necessary to conduct a widespread evacuation of low-lying residential areas five to ten miles from the coast.