More Hurricanes To Be Expected This Year, Says Colorado State University After Hurricane Beryl Devastation

Weather forecasters at Colorado State University have announced that more hurricanes are to be expected in 2024, updating the number of expected hurricanes forming this year. This comes after Hurricane Beryl devastated parts of the Caribbean, Mexico, and Texas, leaving a trail of death and destruction in its wake.

"Hurricane Beryl, a deep tropical category 5 hurricane, is also a likely harbinger of a hyperactive season," warned the CSU forecast, which was released on Tuesday.

Beryl is not a hurricane anymore as it gradually weakened since it made landfall in Mexico. However, in its devastation, the storm has killed at least 14 people, including at least 3 in the United States. It also caused much damage in Grenada and Jamaica, as well as Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Homes have been smashed to ruin, while many parts of Texas are still without power.

CSU meteorologists announced that they expect six major hurricanes, with wind speeds above 111 miles per hour (178 kilometers per hour) in their forecast. They also expect that there will be 12 hurricanes from 25 named storms before the season ends on November 30, according to Reuters. This is more than their previous forecast of at least five major hurricanes out of 11 hurricanes from 23 named storms.

There are two primary reasons cited by the CSU forecasters, and these include the fact that the seas are hotter than usual. The warmer seas provide more energy that could feed into the creation of tropical cyclones. The other reason is the absence this year of an El Nino weather pattern, which produces strong winds that often break apart hurricanes.

"While early season storm activity in the western Atlantic typically has little relationship with overall basinwide activity, deep tropical hurricane activity in the tropical Atlantic and eastern Caribbean (such as we saw with Beryl) is often associated with hyperactive seasons," noted the CSU forecast.

Hurricane Beryl Left Millions Without Power in Texas

Hurricane Beryl is only the second named storm in the Atlantic this year and it has already caused many problems, including in Texas which only had its power woes increase, as millions find themselves without electricity in the state.

According to Politico, nearly 3 million homes and businesses do not have electricity, while some parts of the state have found themselves flooded, prompting dozens of high-water rescues. State officials have now warned that it could take several days to restore power.

Caribbean Countries Take Economic Hit After Hurricane Beryl Devastation

Meanwhile, in the Caribbean, the hurricane has taken a financial toll on some of the countries it devastated, particularly Jamaica and Granada, where much of the destruction happened.

"There is no doubt this disaster will have a major impact on Grenada's economic situation," said Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell during a press briefing, "We are talking hundreds of millions of dollars in losses and hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuild."

Mitchell emphasized the need to rebuild structures resistant to storms as the wood houses on the island would be difficult to insure.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Hurricane Beryl hammers Texas coast, knocks out power for millions - CBS Evening News