Hurricane Beryl (, BEHR-ril) was an extremely rare and destructive tropical cyclone that impacted parts of the Caribbean, the Yucatán Peninsula, and the Gulf Coast of the United States in late June and early July 2024. The second named storm, first hurricane, first major hurricane, and first Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale of the extremely active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, the system broke many meteorological records, primarily for formation and intensity. Beryl was one of only two Atlantic hurricanes to reach Category 5 hurricane status in July, along with Emily in 2005. Beryl was both the earliest-forming Category 4 and Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic Ocean, and the strongest hurricane to develop within the Main Development Region of the Atlantic before the month of July.
Beryl developed from a tropical wave that left the coast of Africa on June 25. After forming on June 28 in the Main Development Region, it began rapidly intensifying as it moved west through the central tropical Atlantic. On July 1, Beryl made landfall on the island of Carriacou, Grenada, as a Category 4 hurricane, causing significant damage. The hurricane intensified further as it entered the Caribbean Sea, peaking as a Category 5 hurricane early the next morning with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 932 mbar (27.52 inHg). Over the next few days, Beryl slowly weakened due to wind shear as it passed south of Jamaica and then the Cayman Islands. It briefly re-intensified into a Category 3 hurricane before weakening again as it made landfall in Tulum, Quintana Roo, as a high-end Category 1 hurricane on July 5. After weakening into a tropical storm over the Yucatán Peninsula, the system moved into the Gulf of Mexico, where it gradually reorganized into a Category 1 hurricane on July 8, just before making its final landfall near Matagorda, Texas. Beryl slowly weakened over land as it accelerated to the northeast, eventually becoming post-tropical over the state of Arkansas on July 9 and dissipating over Ontario on July 11.
Damage and casualties from the hurricane were widespread. Beryl caused catastrophic impacts on Grenada's northern islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, damaging or destroying 99% of buildings on the former and 70% on the latter. Several of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' southern islands, such as Canouan, Mayreau, and Union Island, had 80%-90% of dwellings damaged to some degree. On Barbados, Beryl damaged more than 200 boats and about 40 homes. In the Venezuelan state of Sucre, the Manzanares River overflowed, flooding more than 6,000 homes. Landslides and rough seas destroyed some structures in the Dominican Republic, while the hurricane damaged crops, dwellings, and infrastructure on Jamaica. The Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico also sustained damage from the hurricane, although it was generally limited to downed trees and power lines and damaged roofs; there was also widespread flooding. In the United States, the state of Texas experienced severe flooding and wind damage, while about 2.7 million people lost electricity. Additionally, the hurricane and its remnants produced a prolific tornado outbreak, with 68 tornadoes confirmed in the United States and 2 in Ontario. Overall, Beryl caused 73 deaths, including 48 in the United States, 8 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 6 each in Grenada and Venezuela, 4 in Jamaica, and 1 in Canada. Additionally, Beryl inflicted at least $9.05 billion in damage, with $7.2 billion in the United States, $995 million in Jamaica, $231 million in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, $218 million in Grenada, $96.5 million in Barbados, $90 million in Mexico, $2.1 million in the Cayman Islands, and $2 million in Saint Lucia. Due to extensive damage and casualties, the World Meteorological Organization retired the name Beryl after the season, and was replaced by Brianna starting from the 2030 season.
Hurricane Beryl (, BEHR-ril) was an extremely rare and destructive tropical cyclone that impacted parts of the Caribbean, the Yucatán Peninsula, and the Gulf Coast of the United States in late June and early July 2024. The second named storm, first hurricane, first major hurricane, and first Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale of the extremely active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, the system broke many meteorological records, primarily for formation and intensity. Beryl was one of only two Atlantic hurricanes to reach Category 5 hurricane status in July, along with Emily in 2005. Beryl was both the earliest-forming Category 4 and Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic Ocean, and the strongest hurricane to develop within the Main Development Region of the Atlantic before the month of July.
Beryl developed from a tropical wave that left the coast of Africa on June 25. After forming on June 28 in the Main Development Region, it began rapidly intensifying as it moved west through the central tropical Atlantic. On July 1, Beryl made landfall on the island of Carriacou, Grenada, as a Category 4 hurricane, causing significant damage. The hurricane intensified further as it entered the Caribbean Sea, peaking as a Category 5 hurricane early the next morning with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 932 mbar (27.52 inHg). Over the next few days, Beryl slowly weakened due to wind shear as it passed south of Jamaica and then the Cayman Islands. It briefly re-intensified into a Category 3 hurricane before weakening again as it made landfall in Tulum, Quintana Roo, as a high-end Category 1 hurricane on July 5. After weakening into a tropical storm over the Yucatán Peninsula, the system moved into the Gulf of Mexico, where it gradually reorganized into a Category 1 hurricane on July 8, just before making its final landfall near Matagorda, Texas. Beryl slowly weakened over land as it accelerated to the northeast, eventually becoming post-tropical over the state of Arkansas on July 9 and dissipating over Ontario on July 11.
Damage and casualties from the hurricane were widespread. Beryl caused catastrophic impacts on Grenada's northern islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, damaging or destroying 99% of buildings on the former and 70% on the latter. Several of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' southern islands, such as Canouan, Mayreau, and Union Island, had 80%-90% of dwellings damaged to some degree. On Barbados, Beryl damaged more than 200 boats and about 40 homes. In the Venezuelan state of Sucre, the Manzanares River overflowed, flooding more than 6,000 homes. Landslides and rough seas destroyed some structures in the Dominican Republic, while the hurricane damaged crops, dwellings, and infrastructure on Jamaica. The Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico also sustained damage from the hurricane, although it was generally limited to downed trees and power lines and damaged roofs; there was also widespread flooding. In the United States, the state of Texas experienced severe flooding and wind damage, while about 2.7 million people lost electricity. Additionally, the hurricane and its remnants produced a prolific tornado outbreak, with 68 tornadoes confirmed in the United States and 2 in Ontario. Overall, Beryl caused 73 deaths, including 48 in the United States, 8 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 6 each in Grenada and Venezuela, 4 in Jamaica, and 1 in Canada. Additionally, Beryl inflicted at least $9.05 billion in damage, with $7.2 billion in the United States, $995 million in Jamaica, $231 million in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, $218 million in Grenada, $96.5 million in Barbados, $90 million in Mexico, $2.1 million in the Cayman Islands, and $2 million in Saint Lucia. Due to extensive damage and casualties, the World Meteorological Organization retired the name Beryl after the season, and was replaced by Brianna starting from the 2030 season.
Meteorological history
A tropical wave emerged off the coast of West Africa on June 23, producing disorganized showers south of Cabo Verde. By the evening of June 27, the satellite presentation of the disturbance was beginning to show some organization, with curved bands developing around a broad circulation. Environmental conditions at the time were described as being "unusually conducive" for tropical cyclogenesis across the central and western tropical Atlantic for late June, with near record-warm sea surface temperatures (SST) of about 82 °F (28 °C), light wind shear of 6–12 mph (9–19 km/h), plus high mid-level relative humidity of around 70%. The disturbance developed further over the next day, with persistent thunderstorm activity occurring. The tropical wave developed into a tropical depression at 12:00 UTC on June 28 about 1,380 mi (2,220 km) east of Barbados. The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Beryl by 00:00 UTC on June 29, with thunderstorms organizing into a central dense overcast, with a symmetric cloud pattern surrounded by rainbands.
Continuing its rapid intensification, Beryl became a hurricane on June 29 as the inner core of the thunderstorms developed into an eye. Beryl intensified into a Category 3 major hurricane around 12:00 UTC on June 30 and a Category 4 hurricane six hours later. An eyewall replacement cycle then weakened Beryl to a Category 3 hurricane early on July 1, but it regained Category 4 strength six hours later once the cycle was completed. At 15:10 UTC the same day, Beryl made landfall in Carriacou, Grenada, with winds of 140 mph (220 km/h). After entering the Caribbean, Hurricane Hunters found that Beryl further intensified into a Category 5 hurricane early on July 2 and soon peaked with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) a minimum pressure of 932 mbar (27.5 inHg), recorded by a dropsonde about 510 mi (820 km) east-southeast of Beata Island.
Increasing wind shear led Beryl to begin weakening later on July 2 as it passed well south of Hispaniola, falling to Category 4 intensity. Beryl passed 15–25 mi (30–35 km) south of southern Jamaica late on July 3 and early on July 4. Around 12:00 UTC on the latter date, the cyclone weakened to a Category 2 hurricane southeast of the Cayman Islands. Beryl briefly regained major hurricane status early on July 5 but quickly weakened back. At 11:00 UTC, the storm struck Mexico near Tulum, Quintana Roo, as a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 90 mph (150 km/h). Beryl fell to tropical storm status before reaching the Gulf of Mexico later on July 5. That night and into the next day, in addition to a broader inner core, Beryl was beset by an infusion of dry air and by moderate wind shear which kept the storm from strengthening appreciably. Even so, by the afternoon of July 6, its convective structure had improved and become more persistent. Beryl turned to the north-northwest on July 7, and slowed to 10 mph (17 km/h). Early on July 8, Hurricane Hunters showed Beryl became a Category 1 hurricane before striking near Matagorda, Texas, at 08:40 UTC with winds of 90 mph (150 km/h). While crossing Greater Houston, Beryl weakened to a tropical storm at 18:00 UTC and turned northeastward. Around 00:00 UTC on July 9, the cyclone weakened to a tropical depression, about 12 hours before becoming extratropical over Arkansas. The extratropical remnants crossed the Midwestern United States and southern Ontario before being absorbed near Buffalo, New York by a frontal system on July 11.
Records
Beryl is the easternmost hurricane to form in the tropical Atlantic in June – 41.9°W, beating the mark set by the 1933 Trinidad hurricane – 58.9°W. Additionally, on June 30, it became the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record in the basin, surpassing the previous record set on July 8, 2005, by Hurricane Dennis, and the strongest June hurricane as measured by wind speed, surpassing Hurricane Audrey of 1957. It later became the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record, surpassing the record set on July 16, 2005, by Hurricane Emily, as well as becoming the strongest July hurricane on record by wind speed, and the highest accumulated cyclone energy-generating storm before August.
Beryl was the strongest cyclone to hit Grenada or its dependencies. Beryl also became the first tropical system on record to undergo rapid intensification in the Main Development Region of the Atlantic during the month of June. Furthermore, it intensified from tropical storm to Category 5 hurricane in only 42 hours. Only seven other Atlantic storms are known to have achieved this rate of intensification, with Beryl the only one to do so earlier than August. According to an analysis by ClimaMeter, a project of the Climate and Environment Sciences Laboratory, Beryl's extreme winds and heavy precipitation were strengthened by climate change. Natural climate variability, notably the Pacific decadal oscillation and the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation, likely played a role as well.
Preparations
Lesser Antilles
Barbados, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Saint Lucia were put under a hurricane warning on June 29. Tobago was also put under a hurricane warning on June 30, as was Martinique, along with a vigilance orange. Trinidad was also put under a tropical storm warning, and Dominica placed under a tropical storm watch. Caribbean Airlines postponed several flights between Barbados, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago on June 30. Virgin Atlantic and British Airways also canceled flights in the region as the storm approached.
A state of emergency was declared for Tobago. Ferry schedules were modified on June 30 in Trinidad and Tobago. All ferries to Tobago for July 1 were canceled. Schools across the nation were closed for July 1. As of that morning, the 14 shelters across Tobago sheltered 142 people. Around 160 yachts moved into the nation's waters seeking shelter.
All businesses on Barbados were ordered to be closed by the evening of July 1, and all waterlines were shut down. The India national cricket team was unable to return home from Barbados after winning the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup; scores of fans were also stranded on the island. As Beryl passed nearby, more than 400 people were staying in hurricane shelters across Barbados.
A curfew was instated in Grenada on June 30, and a week-long state of emergency was declared by Governor-GeneralCécile La Grenade. A Caribbean Community meeting in Grenada, scheduled to run from July 3 to July 5, was canceled. On June 29, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre of Saint Lucia ordered a national shutdown there. A curfew was also imposed in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the government shut down. In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 1,752 people sought refuge from Beryl in shelters, as did over 1,600 people in Grenada.
Greater Antilles
The Caribbean coast of the Dominican Republic and Haiti were put under a tropical storm warning on July 2. The advisory was raised on July 3 to a hurricane watch for southwestern Haiti, and an orange alert was put into effect. Additionally, a national cloud cover warning was activated for the Dominican Republic. At least 89 people were in shelters in the southwest of the country.
Jamaica's Disaster Risk Coordination Committee convened on July 1 to prepare for the hurricane. The island was placed under a hurricane warning on July 2. Additionally, a state of emergency was imposed as the island was declared a disaster zone as the hurricane approached. Also, a nationwide evacuation order was issued for residents of communities prone to flooding and landslides. Norman Manley International Airport and Sangster International Airport were closed on July 3. A nationwide curfew was implemented by the government on July 3. Over 1,000 people across the nation were in shelters. The Miss Universe Jamaica Grand Coronation, which was scheduled for July 6, was postponed.
On July 1, Quintana Roo was placed on a blue alert in preparation for Beryl. Officials upgraded the alert to red three days later. On July 2, the Yucatán state government activated 2,000 shelters. In Quintana Roo, the Mexican Defense Ministry opened 120 shelters; schools throughout the state were closed, as were public beaches. Upward of 25,600 federal troops and national electricity company workers were mobilized throughout the region. Officials prepared 9,000 U.S. gal (34,000 L) of potable water for distribution. They also moved sea turtle eggs off beaches around Cancún in an attempt to protect them from storm surge. About 2,200 people were staying in shelters as the system moved through. The eastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula was placed under a set of advisories on July 3: a hurricane warning for the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula from Puerto Costa Maya, Quintana Roo, to Cancún; a tropical storm warning south of Puerto Costa Maya to Chetumal, and north of Cancún to Cabo Catoche; and a tropical storm watch west of Cabo Catoche to Campeche, Campeche. More than 300 flights into Cancún International Airport and Tulum International Airport were canceled as Beryl moved in, and Tulum Airport suspended all operations from the afternoon of July 4 through midday July 7. Tren Maya halted operations until July 6. As Beryl moved across the western Gulf of Mexico, a hurricane watch was issued on July 5 for coastal Tamaulipas, from Barra El Mezquital to the mouth of the Rio Grande.
On July 3, a Tropical Storm Watch was issued for the Caribbean coast of Belize, extending from Belize City to Corozal, including the islands of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. Residents in the northern part of Belize were advised to prepare for flooding. The watch was upgraded to a warning on July 4.