Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula
The center of Hurricane Beryl made landfall on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula on Friday morning, lashing areas like Cancun and Tulum with destructive winds, storm surge and damaging waves.
The storm came ashore just northeast of Tulum at 6:05 a.m. ET as a strong Category 2 hurricane with peak winds estimated at 110 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
At last check, maximum sustained winds had decreased to near 100 mph with higher gusts, the NHC said. Rapid weakening is expected as Beryl moves farther inland and crosses the Yucatán Peninsula, but slow re-intensification is expected once Beryl moves back over the Gulf of Mexico.
"We ask the community to stay home and not go out – we want you to stay safe and protect your families," the governor of Mexico's Quintana Roo state, Mara Lezama, said. "It may look calm now with rain and no wind. The storm can change all of a sudden and strong winds can cause life-threatening damage. We urge you to stay home and protect yourselves from the storm."
A weather observation station at Xcaret Park reported sustained winds of 59 mph and a wind gust of 81 mph Friday morning, the NHC said. An 85 mph wind gust was reported at a personal weather station at the Hilton Tulum Resort.
Hurricane Warnings stretch from popular resort areas of Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, including Cozumel.
Storm surge could raise water levels up to 4-6 feet above ground level along the eastern shores of the Yucatán Peninsula accompanied by large and destructive waves.
Torrential rains could measure 4-6 inches of accumulations with isolated areas of 10 inch rainfall totals.
Hundreds evacuate to shelters ahead of Hurricane Beryl
The Yucatán Peninsula is just next on the list of places Beryl has been wreaking havoc. The storm spent earlier Thursday buffeting the Cayman Islands, just a day after the monster storm brought destructive winds and life-threatening storm surge flooding to Jamaica.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA - JULY 03: Palm trees sway as the wind and rain from Hurricane Beryl pass through on July 03, 2024, in Kingston, Jamaica. Beryl has caused widespread damage in several island nations as it continues to cross the Caribbean. (Photo by
The storm has killed at least 11 people across the Caribbean and Venezuela, including a woman in Jamaica, where the brunt of the storm arrived Wednesday. She died when a tree fell into her home, according to a report from Reuters.
Hundreds of people living in Jamaica fled their homes and found safety inside one of the numerous shelters that had opened up ahead of Hurricane Beryl’s arrival on Wednesday.
Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced close to 500 people were in shelters and confirmed that sufficient supplies and resources were available.
In addition, more than 100 people were evacuated from flood-prone areas in communities such as Old Harbour Bay and St. Catherine. Officials said there was a coordinated effort to get those residents to shelter, and sounded an emergency siren to warn those in the area of the danger.
Hurricane Beryl is responsible for knocking down numerous trees and power lines that blocked roads and knocked out power across the island, but there is so far no word on any extreme damage reports.
Cayman Islands issue ‘all-clear’ after Hurricane Beryl passes
The Cayman Islands were the most recent Caribbean enclave to feel the wrath of Beryl as the Category 3 storm passed just 55 miles to the south of the island before daybreak Thursday.
It was close enough to pummel the island with torrential rains, damaging wind gusts, and dangerous storm surge.
Residents were ordered to shelter in place starting Wednesday evening until the all-clear was given, but early reports from the island indicate it weathered the storm without any significant damage.
Government officials gave the all-clear early Thursday afternoon.
"We’ve had a lot of people out there checking the debris and the damage," said Grand Cayman Gov. Jane Owen. "We hope that it is relatively limited, which is why we are going ahead with the all clear from now.
At least 11 dead after Hurricane Beryl slams islands
Hurricane Beryl caused far more destruction when it swept through some of the Windward Islands as a powerful Category 4 storm earlier in the week. In the days since, the reality of the destruction and devastation has set in.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said in an address to the nation on Monday night that Hurricane Beryl "devastated" Union Island, and 90% of the homes on the island have been severely damaged or destroyed.
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The airport also suffered major damage, with Gonsalves saying the facility's roof was ripped off during the storm’s catastrophic winds.
In addition, at least four people were killed, and Gonsalves warned the death toll could rise.
Grenada's Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell, reported the situation is grim, with buildings destroyed and roads impassable due to downed power lines. Mitchell added that government officials from the nearby island of Carriacou reported at least two deaths and that "the possibility that there will be more fatalities remains a grim reality."
According to reports, one person was killed in Grenada, and three were killed in Venezuela.
Barbados also suffered the effects of Hurricane Beryl, but efforts to clear streets of debris and restore services began almost immediately after the storm passed.
Significant damage was reported to boats at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex due to the storm surge flooding.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley toured the damage on Monday and said she would work to support those impacted by the damage to the region.
She also said all government departments, except for schools, opened on Tuesday following Hurricane Beryl's passage.
According to officials, the Port of Bridgetown reopened for business on Tuesday morning, and flights would start to resume at Grantley Adams International Airport.
Crews have also been busy restoring water to affected residents. In an update, the Barbados Water Authority (BWS) said that production capacity reached 85% around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.
"While all pumps were secured due to the temporary shutdown and are in good working order, the Authority did sustain minor damage to some equipment as a result of the weather," the BWA said in a statement.
Water tankers will continue to deliver water to those in an area without service.