Record Breaking Hurricane Beryl Advances Toward Mexico

In Brief:

Hurricane Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 season, became the earliest Category 5 storm in any Atlantic hurricane season, highlighting the potential for several powerful storms this year.
NOAA predicted above-normal hurricane activity due to near-record high Atlantic water temperatures, La Nina conditions in the Pacific, and reduced Atlantic trade winds and wind shear.
Currently a Category 2 hurricane, Beryl is expected to make landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico by early Friday, bringing strong winds, dangerous storm surge, and damaging waves.

The first hurricane of the 2024 season, Hurricane Beryl, hints at the possibility of several powerful storms forming over the next few months. In May, the NOAA predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic this year, mainly due to near-record high water temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, the development of La Nina conditions in the Pacific, and reduced Atlantic trade winds and wind shear. After strengthening to a Category 5 storm just 33 days after the start of hurricane season, Beryl became the earliest Category 5 storm in any Atlantic hurricane season.

According to the National Hurricane Center’s most recent advisory, Hurricane Beryl is progressing steadily across the Northwestern Caribbean Sea after weakening to a Category 2 hurricane following its official landfall in Jamaica yesterday. Beryl is 135 miles west of Grand Cayman and 275 miles east of Tulum, Mexico, and moving northwest at 18 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center warns of strong winds, dangerous storm surge, and damaging waves as the storm is suspected to make landfall on the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico by early Friday.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, including Cozumel. A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected to occur within the area.