The Meteorological Service of Jamaica today (July 3) advises citizens that it still expects Hurricane Beryl to pass near or just south of the country’s southern coastline, bringing dangerous conditions between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm local time.
Slowing in forward speed over the last few hours, Beryl’s outer bands have been impacting sections of the island since last night as it barrels through the central Caribbean.
While reiterating that Jamaica remains under a hurricane warning, the Met Office warned that rainfall associated with the record-breaking storm’s core will further impact much of the country.
Averages between 100 and 200 millimetres (up to eight feet) of accumulated rainfall are forecast island-wide, with those totals being markedly higher in hilly/mountainous areas. Strong winds, picking up from tropical storm force to hurricane intensity, will buffet most areas as the centre of Hurricane Beryl hugs Jamaica’s southern coast.
Already, reports of worsening weather conditions in sections of St Thomas and St Catherine are making the rounds on social media as most Jamaicans shelter in place.
Glengoffe, St.Catherine https://t.co/XeGv7hPhCI pic.twitter.com/0rT4Jldkck
— Top Capper (@2ndcomingofSJ) July 3, 2024
📍March Pen Rd, Spanish Town pic.twitter.com/e6BJYWZJr2
— 𝒪𝓃𝒾𝑒𝒸𝒾𝒶 💓 (@taj_mania) July 3, 2024
The US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC), as at 11:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST), located the eye of Hurricane Beryl near latitude 17.1 North, longitude 76.1 West—or roughly 125 kilometres southeast of Kingston.
Beryl is tracking west-northwest at 22 kilometres/hour and packs 230 kilometres/hour maximum sustained winds, with higher gusts.
Still a menacing Category 4 system, hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 75 kilometres from Beryl’s eye and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 295 kilometres.
NHC experts forecast some weakening for Hurricane Beryl “during the next day or two”.
“However, Beryl is forecast to be at or near major hurricane intensity while it passes near Jamaica later today and the Cayman Islands tonight or early Thursday. Additional weakening is expected thereafter, though Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean,” the NHC advised.
In the meantime, see latest on regional alert levels:
| Hurricane warning | Jamaica Cayman Islands Caribbean coast of the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancún |
| Hurricane watch | Caribbean coast of the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancún Yucatán Peninsula coastline north of Cancún to Cabo Catoche |
| Tropical storm warning | South coast of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Anse d’Hainault Caribbean coast of the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancún Yucatán Peninsula coastline north of Cancún to Cabo Catoche |
| Tropical storm watch | Coast of Belize from south of Chetumal to Belize City Yucatán Peninsula coastline west of Cabo Catoche to Campeche |
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