Bridgetown, Barbados – The Caribbean islands are bracing for the impact of Hurricane Beryl, which rapidly intensified into a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph on Sunday. This marks the earliest occurrence of a storm of this intensity in the Atlantic, prompting preparations across the region for potentially violent weather conditions.

The National Hurricane Center issued warnings for the Lesser Antilles, with hurricane warnings in place for Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands, Grenada, and Tobago. Tropical storm advisories extended north to the Dominican Republic and Haiti as Beryl was projected to move across the Caribbean towards the northwestern region of the sea.

Residents and officials in the affected areas have been urged to complete all necessary preparations as Beryl’s arrival looms. Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre of St. Lucia declared a national shutdown starting Sunday evening in anticipation of the storm’s impact on the approximately 170,000 residents of the country.

As the region braces for the arrival of Beryl, concerns about the potential for life-threatening conditions, including strong winds, power outages, and flash flooding, are at the forefront. Residents like Doriel Gill-Skinner in Bridgetown, Barbados, have taken precautions to secure their homes and ensure the safety of themselves and their families.

The rapid intensification of Beryl, from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane in just 36 hours, has raised alarms among experts. The storm’s swift escalation and unusual strength for the month of June have been linked to human-induced climate change, with warmer ocean waters fueling its growth.

Despite the calm before the storm, residents like Rhyesa Joseph in Vieux Fort, St. Lucia, are preparing for potential economic and infrastructural damage in the wake of Hurricane Beryl’s impact. The memories of past devastating storms like Hurricane Tomas in 2010 serve as a stark reminder of the potential devastation that can be caused by powerful hurricanes in the region.

As Beryl continues on its path through the Caribbean, uncertainties remain about its exact trajectory and the areas it will affect. With concerns about storm surges, heavy rainfall, and potential damage to infrastructure and crops, communities are on high alert and taking necessary precautions to weather the storm.