Hurricane Beryl grows to Category 5 strength as it razes southeast Caribbean islands

SUMMARY

Hurricane Beryl intensified to a Category 5 storm late Monday, causing extensive damage in the southeastern Caribbean with winds reaching 160 mph. It made landfall on Carriacou in Grenada, resulting in one confirmed death and widespread destruction, including severe damage to homes and infrastructure. Communications with affected areas like Carriacou and Petite Martinique are down, hindering full assessment. Beryl is expected to weaken as it heads towards Jamaica and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. This early and powerful storm, fueled by record warm Atlantic waters, signals a potentially active hurricane season, with NOAA forecasting up to 25 named storms.