The season’s first named hurricane, Beryl, is predicted to make landfall late on Sunday over many islands.
With gusts of up to 155 mph (250 km/h) and a storm surge of 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters), forecasters have dubbed the hurricane “extremely dangerous” and expect it to strengthen into a category four storm.
As the powerful hurricane approaches many Caribbean islands, including Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, and Martinique, it is anticipated to intensify much more.
It is uncommon for a storm in this area of the Atlantic to intensify so quickly at this early point in the season. Lead hurricane forecaster Alex DaSilva of AccuWeather cautioned that there was a high risk to life and property on several islands in the Lower Antilles.
In anticipation of the storm, residents throughout the area are barricading their houses, waiting in line at gas stations to fill up, and hoarding groceries and water.
The prime minister of Barbados asked people to watch out for their friends, family, and neighbors as the hurricane makes landfall in a speech to the country on Saturday night.
As it makes its way toward the western Caribbean islands, Hurricane Beryl, which developed Friday night from a tropical storm, is already packing gusts of 130 mph, according to forecasters.
