Beryl was a destructive Category 5 hurricane that ravaged areas such as the Windward Islands, Jamaica, Yucatán Peninsula, and parts of the United States. This impressive hurricane broke many records for its intensity and location in the North Atlantic basin. Let's look into the background of Beryl and why this hurricane was so anomalous.
Background
On June 25, 2024, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) marked an area of interest for a tropical wave that could develop into a tropical cyclone. On June 29, Tropical Storm Beryl formed. Environmental conditions were unusually favorable due to the following factors: high sea surface temperatures, relatively low wind shear, and a moist environment. These factors resulted in Beryl to undergo rapid intensification, an increase in sustained winds of at least 35 mph within 24 hours. On June 30, Beryl rapidly intensified to a dangerous Category 4 hurricane with winds of 130 mph. After briefly weakening, Beryl restrengthened and made a devastating landfall in Carriacou, Grenada at Category 4 intensity on July 1. Early on July 2, Beryl intensified to a powerful Category 5 hurricane with winds of 165 mph in the eastern Caribbean.
Shortly afterward, increasing wind shear caused Beryl to steadily weaken over the next few days as the storm moved west. Beryl passed near Jamaica and the Cayman Islands as a major hurricane. On July 5, Beryl made landfall near Tulum, Mexico at Category 2 intensity. The storm later re-emerged in the Gulf of Mexico as a tropical storm and struggled with dry air and moderate wind shear. However, early on July 8, Beryl strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane and made landfall in Matagorda, Texas. After landfall, Beryl weakened and its remnants caused a tornado outbreak.
Impacts and Records
Strong winds and storm surge caused widespread structural damage across the Windward Islands. Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines were hit the hardest, with most houses damaged or destroyed. Beryl's high winds caused power outages across parts of the United States and Yucatán Peninsula. Thousands of people in areas like Houston, Texas experienced major flooding and widespread power outages. Additionally, numerous tornadoes were associated with Beryl, causing significant damage in parts of eastern Texas, Louisiana, Indiana, and New York.
Beryl broke and set many records. Here are some below.
1. Easternmost Atlantic hurricane in June.
2. First Category 4 Atlantic hurricane in June.
3. Earliest Category 4 and Category 5 Atlantic hurricane.
4. Strongest June and July Atlantic hurricane.
5. Strongest hurricane near Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
6. National Weather Service (NWS) in Shreveport, Louisiana issued the most tornado warnings in a month and day (67).
Conclusion
Beryl was an extraordinary storm for late June and early July. The first major hurricane for an Atlantic hurricane season usually forms in late August or early September. Beryl achieved that status in late June, which is very early. Beryl was an incredibly rare event and will likely be studied for many years to come.
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