While slightly weakening today (July 2), Hurricane Beryl continues its approach towards Jamaica at major hurricane intensity on a trajectory that suggests a near-glance or direct hit in the next 24 hours.

The Jamaica Meteorological Service, in its 8:00 am bulletin, advised that a hurricane warning remains in effect for the country.

Miami-based authority, the National Hurricane Center (NHC), says the record-setting storm threatens to bring life-threatening winds, torrential rains and storm surge across Jamaica by early Wednesday.

As at 11:00 am Atlantic Standard Time (AST), the centre of Hurricane Beryl was located near latitude 15.3 North, longitude 68.9 West—or roughly 375 kilometres southeast of Isla Beata, Dominican Republic.

The monster cyclone is moving west-northwest at a brisk 35 kilometres/hour and currently boasts maximum sustained winds near 260 kilometres/hour, with higher gusts.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 65 kilometres from Beryl’s centre and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 280 kilometres.

The following alerts are active:

Down from its 265 kilometres/hour peak earlier this morning, though NHC models project further weakening by potential landfall, Hurricane Beryl still packs a devastating punch.

“On the forecast track, the centre of Beryl will move quickly across the central Caribbean Sea today and is forecast to pass near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday. The centre is forecast to approach the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico on Thursday night,” the NHC noted in its hurricane public advisory at 11:00 am AST.

“Weakening is forecast later today, but Beryl is still expected to be near major hurricane intensity as it moves into the central Caribbean and passes near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday. Additional weakening is expected thereafter, though Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean,” the hurricane watchdog added.

The Jamaica Met Service issued a call for all fisherfolk and marine interests to return to shore, while schools have been ordered to close ahead of the usual July 3 end of the academic year.

Meanwhile, all emergency shelters have been activated as Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government is considering implementing provisions of the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA)—last enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This would give the Government the necessary executive powers to be able to respond quickly and with flexibility. No decision has yet been taken. The Cabinet will reconvene in another hour or so, and when we review all the recommendations and presentations made, then we will inform the nation as to the implementation of orders under the DRMA,” he said at a press briefing on Monday afternoon.

“It’s very important to establish that there is a disaster and that emergency rules would kick in, and very important for accountability afterwards. After disasters have passed, the accountability process does not sometimes incorporate that there was a disaster, and so it is important that the framework be well established. So it is likely that we will implement Orders under the Disaster Risk Management Act,”
Holness added.

Authorities in the Eastern Caribbean, where a Category 4 Hurricane Beryl yesterday devasted the small island chain, say at least two deaths are attributable to the storm’s passage.