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Hurricane Beryl regaining strength, heading to Texas

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July 3, 2024

Hurricane Beryl: A white swirl of clouds over blue ocean surrounded by land. Image overlayed by horizontal and vertical white gridlines. — This satellite imagery shows the location of Beryl – now reduced to a tropical storm – at 17:50 UTC on July 6, 2024. The storm has passed Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. It is expected to regain hurricane strength over the Gulf of Mexico and make landfall on the Texas coast overnight Sunday and into Monday morning, July 7-8. Then it will continue into eastern Texas. Image via NOAA.

The Atlantic Basin usually doesn’t see its first major hurricane until around September 1. But, as its wind gusted to 160 mph (257 kmh) overnight on July 1, 2024, Beryl became the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record. Experts say Beryl became super-charged by warm seas.

And on Wednesday, July 3, Beryl continued its westward sweep through the Atlantic Basin. The storm tore across Grenada, leaving devastation in its wake. Jamaica and the Cayman Islands were next in the path of the hurricane. At the time, Beryl was a category 4 hurricane.

On Saturday, July 6, the storm winds slowed to 60 mph (96 kmh). Again a tropical storm, Beryl is crossing the Gulf of Mexico – where it is gaining strength – on its way to the Texas shore. It is predicted to make landfall with hurricane-force winds this evening. It will then move onshore and into the eastern part of the state. Storm surges and flooding are anticipated in some regions.

Tropical Storm #Beryl Advisory 32A: Hurricane Hunter Aircraft Reports Beryl Has Changed Little in Strength During the Past Few Hours. Hurricane-Force Winds, Life-Threatening Storm Surge, and Heavy Rains Expected in Portions of South Texas. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 6, 2024

Hurricane Beryl: Map of the Caribbean and Gulf area showing a cone headed into East Texas. — Here’s the latest forecast for the path of Hurricane Beryl and its winds, from July 6, 2024. Image via National Hurricane Center/ NOAA.

Here are the 10 AM CDT Saturday Key Messages for Tropical Storm #Beryl. Beryl is forecast to strengthen on Sunday & Sunday night and become a hurricane before it reaches the Texas coast on Monday. Follow the latest at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/has4CcRUkB

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 6, 2024

#Beryl is expected to produce life-threatening surf and rip current conditions through the weekend across much of the Gulf Coast. Beachgoers should heed warning flags and the advice of lifeguards and local officials before venturing into the water. pic.twitter.com/1GvDxg3da6

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 6, 2024

A record-setting hurricane

Here are some of the notable records Hurricane Beryl has set.

Beryl formed farther east than any other June hurricane since the mid-1800s, when record-keeping began.
It moved from tropical depression status into a Category 3 hurricane in less than 48 hours, something that’s never happened before earlier than September (since record-keeping began).
Overall, Hurricane Beryl became the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record for June, beating out Hurricane Audrey in 1957.

Beryl in social media

NOAA's Hurricane Hunters flew around and inside the eye of Category 5 Hurricane #Beryl on Tuesday July 2nd to collect data for forecasting and research. Can you imagine doing this for your job??? We all benefit. Visit https://t.co/dC8ki7lTh8 for the latest on #HurricaneBeryl. pic.twitter.com/UOucwDeN52

— UW-Madison CIMSS (@UWCIMSS) July 3, 2024

We flew right over the top of Hurricane Beryl today. Peering down into the eye with the 50 to 500 mm lens gave me both an eerie feeling and a high level of weather nerd excitement.

Whole Hurricane: 50mm, f9, ISO 1000, 1/32000
Eye: 210mm (50 to 500m lens), f13, ISO 1000, 1/26000 pic.twitter.com/731tEy0CJh

— Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) July 1, 2024

Ramos Manuel Carlos recorded this video of storm surge from Hurricane Beryl Tuesday morning. It's bringing coastal flooding to Puerto Rico. pic.twitter.com/AyUXjBC76x

— Channing Frampton (@Channing_TV) July 2, 2024

There have been 24 Atlantic storms in the Satellite Era (1966-present) which have gone through a >70kt rapid intensification within a 36-hour period. (Min start of 35kt)

All of those storms originally formed in Aug, Sep, Oct, or Nov.

Until Beryl.#Beryl is doing this in June.

— Steve Bowen (@SteveBowenWx) June 30, 2024

New: #Beryl is now a cat 5. Earliest cat 5 on record, beating Emily 2005 by 2 full weeks. Warmer water = higher octane fuel. Ocean heat content is now normal for late Aug-early Sept. https://t.co/SF3MBGZ5UN pic.twitter.com/PxqJhjKsXu

— Jeff Berardelli (@WeatherProf) July 2, 2024

Hurricane Beryl damage in Grenada

Bottom line: Hurricane Beryl churned across the Caribbean islands this week, leaving destruction in its wake. Now the Texas coast is next in its path.

Posted

July 3, 2024

Earth

Deborah Byrd

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About the Author:

Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.

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