Holness tells Jamaicans to prepare as Beryl strengthens into a hurricane in the Atlantic

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is urging Jamaicans to begin preparations for Hurricane Beryl, which is expected to begin impacting Jamaica on Wednesday.

While addressing the St Andrew South Community Consultative Conference on Saturday Holness noted that various models have projected that the system will "probably impact Jamaica" and bring adverse weather conditions.

"It is always in your best interest to be prepared. If the weather event passes and there is no impact, you would have lost nothing. But you would not want an impact to occur and you did not prepare for it," Holness implored Jamaicans.

He said residents should stock up on food, water, batteries and candles, secure their documents and safeguard their property.

Holness said the Government is already taking steps to prepare for the storm, with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and the Jamaica Defence Force on alert.

Beryl strengthened into a hurricane on Saturday as it churned toward the southeast Caribbean, with forecasters warning it was expected to become a dangerous and major storm before reaching Barbados late Sunday or early Monday.

A major hurricane is considered a Category 3 or higher, with winds of at least 111 mph (178 kph). At the moment, Beryl is a Category 1 hurricane, marking the farthest east that a hurricane has formed in the tropical Atlantic in June on record, breaking an old record set in 1933, according to Philip Klotzbach, Colorado State University hurricane researcher.

A hurricane warning was issued for Barbados, and a hurricane watch was in effect for St Lucia, Grenada, and St Vincent and the Grenadines, while a tropical storm watch was issued for Martinique, Dominica and Tobago. Hurricane watches were in effect for Barbados, St Lucia, Grenada, and St Vincent and the Grenadines, while a tropical storm watch was issued for Martinique, Dominica and Tobago.

“It's astonishing to see a forecast for a major (Category 3+) hurricane in June anywhere in the Atlantic, let alone this far east in the deep tropics. #Beryl organising in a hurry over the warmest waters ever recorded for late June,” Florida-based hurricane expert Michael Lowry posted on X.

Beryl's centre is forecast to pass about 26 miles (45 kilometres) south of Barbados, said Sabu Best, director of the island's meteorological service's director.

On Saturday, Beryl was located about 720 miles (1,160 kilometres) east-southeast of Barbados, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 kph). It was moving west at 22 mph (35 kph).

“Rapid strengthening is now forecast,” the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.

- Contributions from AP included in this story

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