Caribbean Pummeled by Record-Breaking Category 4 Storm Hurricane Beryl

Hurricane Beryl struck the southeastern Caribbean on Monday, tearing off doors, windows, and roofs.

Making landfall on Carriacou, its became the earliest Category 4 storm in the Atlantic, driven by record-warm waters, according to AP News.

Streets from St. Lucia to Grenada were strewn with debris, including trees and power lines, as winds reached 150 mph (240 kph).

Communications were down, but no deaths or injuries were immediately reported.

As Hurricane Beryl moved into the Caribbean Sea, it was expected to pass south of Jamaica and head towards Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula by Thursday as a Category 1 storm.

The National Hurricane Center warned Beryl would remain extremely dangerous. Jamaica was under a hurricane watch, while Grenada, St. Lucia, Martinique, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines faced tropical storm warnings.

In Grenada, significant damage was reported, and Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell planned to visit Carriacou once it was safe.

Barbados used drones to assess damage, anticipating a life-threatening storm surge of up to 9 feet and 3 to 10 inches of rain.

This powerful storm reminded many of Hurricane Ivan, which hit the region 20 years ago, causing numerous fatalities in Grenada.

Severe Impact on Carriacou and Beyond

Carriacou faced some of the worst damage from Hurricane Beryl, with images showing a two-story house's second floor blown off and trees reduced to stumps.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves warned the worst was yet to come, Miami Herald reports.

Wind gusts reached 175 mph, causing severe damage in Grenada and the Grenadines, with homes losing roofs and massive waves.

Carriacou and Petite Martinique, popular boating destinations, were heavily hit. Islands in Beryl's path shut down early, halting air travel, and Grenada declared a state of emergency.

Tobago also suffered, with roofs torn off and trees downed. Grenada saw 3,000 people seek shelter, recalling the devastation of Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

CARICOM chairman Mohamed Irfaan Ali called for immediate support. Jamaica prepared for strong winds and possible tsunami-like conditions.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness assured readiness, with shelters and supplies in place, but urged evacuation from low-lying areas.

The Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force deployed aid to Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Climate Change Fuels Hurricane Beryl

Climate change has intensified hurricanes like Beryl, with North Atlantic temperatures reaching all-time highs, Reuters noted.

Scientists predict more frequent intense hurricanes as water temperatures rise.

Hurricane Beryl's rapid strengthening from a tropical depression to a major hurricane in 42 hours is rare.

It became the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record in the Atlantic, surpassing Hurricane Dennis in 2005, and formed the farthest east in the tropical Atlantic in June.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted above-normal hurricane activity this year.

Canadian travel blogger Nauman Khan described massive waves in Barbados.

Hurricane Beryl's impacts were widely felt across the Caribbean, stranding travelers in Barbados and prompting prayers and concern from friends and family worldwide.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Hurricane Beryl takes aim at southeastern Caribbean as a Category 4 storm - From Associated Press