Raging cyclones and hurricanes. Casualties and massive destruction

Hurricane Beryl, historically the earliest category five storm in the Atlantic, swept through the Caribbean with wind speeds of up to 270 mph, killing at least seven people and destroying infrastructure in Grenada, St. Vincent, the Grenadines and Venezuela. Within 42 hours, it reached category three strength to quickly become a devastating category five hurricane. It is now heading to Jamaica, where the government has declared a curfew. What else has happened in the world in recent days?

With hurricanes and tropical cyclones becoming more frequent and destructive, the world is facing a growing challenge. In recent years, the number of these catastrophic meteorological events has increased significantly, bringing with them not only billions of dollars worth of damage, but also tragic human losses. The latest data from various parts of the globe alarm about the scale and power of these atmospheric phenomena, which are increasingly exceeding scientists’ previous predictions.

Hurricane Beryl – deadly havoc

Hurricane Beryl, the first hurricane of 2024, has reached a record Category Five strength as the earliest storm of this class recorded by the US National Hurricane Center in the Atlantic. Formed in the tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Beryl reached a peak wind speed of 165 mph (270 km/h), rapidly intensifying from a tropical depression to a strong category three or higher hurricane in just 42 hours. Over the next 48 hours, the hurricane strengthened, reaching category four and then five, heading toward Jamaica.

Beryllium caused the deaths of at least seven people as it traveled through Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Venezuela, and destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings. The worst damage was reported on the island of Carriacou in Grenada and on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where satellite images show areas of destruction after the storm passed through. On Monday morning, within half an hour, Beryl nearly leveled the island of Carriacou, leaving 95 percent without power. Grenada residents and preventing access to water in hospitals. Damage was also reported on the island of Petite Martinique and in Barbados.

Drone video captured by storm chaser @bclemms shows scenes of devastation on the island of Carriacou after Hurricane Beryl slammed into the coast as a Category 4 storm. pic.twitter.com/c2VMJh2o5i

– AccuWeather (@accuweather) July 2, 2024

According to forecasts, Beryl could hit the Jamaican coast as a category three or higher hurricane. Jamaica’s prime minister has appealed to residents to take the impending hurricane seriously and prepare for its arrival. Storm surge on the island can rise up to 9 feet above normal tidal levels. Residents are frantically stocking up on food and fuel, securing their homes. The prime minister declared a curfew in effect nationwide from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday to ensure security and prevent looting during the hurricane. The Cayman Islands may also experience tropical storm conditions.

The routing of Hurricane Beryl remains uncertain. Forecasts indicate that its exact route becomes less predictable on Thursday evening and beyond. Nevertheless, the hurricane is expected to make landfall along Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula or northern Belize between Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Are record-breaking hurricanes the new normal?

Recent years have brought a number of record-breaking hurricanes that have surprised both in their strength and duration. For example, 2017’s Hurricane Irma, which reached Category 5, wreaked havoc on the Caribbean and southern US states. Similarly, Hurricane Dorian in 2019, also a Category 5, devastated the Bahamas, leaving gigantic losses in its wake.

Forecasts for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season are alarming. According to NOAA, we can expect 17 to 25 named storms, of which 8 to 13 could reach hurricane strength, and 4 to 7 of them could reach major hurricane status (category 3, 4 or 5). The combination of record high sea surface temperatures and the delayed arrival of El Niño may contribute to increased activity of these destructive phenomena.

Cyclone Freddy – a disastrous 36 days

Cyclone Freddy, which moved across the southern Indian Ocean in 2023, left widespread destruction in southeastern Africa. Its prolonged presence – 36 days as a tropical storm or more – has set a new record for the longest-lasting tropical cyclone, the United Nations confirmed yesterday.

Cyclone initiated its formation on February 5, 2023. Off the northwest coast of Australia. For nearly six weeks it moved across the Indian Ocean, where it reached wind speeds of up to 220 km/h, transforming the landscape and affecting the lives of millions. Freddy first swept across the Indian Ocean basin, starting from Australia to southern Africa, causing significant damage to countries along its route.

Among the worst-affected places, Madagascar, the coast of Mozambique and the Mascarene Islands, including tourist Mauritius and Reunion, have experienced massive damage. The losses also extended to landlocked countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia, the southern region of Malawi and Eswatini. Malawi, where incessant rainfall has caused catastrophic flooding, especially in the capital Blantyre, has seen the greatest losses. The cyclone was responsible for the deaths of 1,434 people and the disappearance of 19 people, making it one of the deadliest cyclones in history. There were 1,216 deaths in Malawi, 198 in Mozambique, and 17 in Madagascar.

Challenges of the future

Powerful hurricanes and tropical cyclones such as Beryl and Freddy are increasingly ravaging our planet, requiring us to be better prepared and understand their impact. The changing climate is only amplifying these extremes, presenting us with challenges that we must be ready for.

Photo. main: NASA/Matthew Dominick