Meteorologists have admitted they are increasingly concerned about Hurricane Beryl as it heads to the United States.
According to these weather experts, many signs have indicated that Beryl will yet again strengthen to a higher category hurricane, even though its strength has lessened recently.
The Earliest Category 5 Hurricane on Record
Beryl has already broken record after record. At first, officials stated that the hurricane became the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record.
Only days later, Beryl strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane — therefore making it the earliest hurricane of this intensity and strength ever seen.
A Rapidly Intensifying Hurricane
Thanks to various factors such as warm ocean waters, Beryl has been able to rapidly intensify in only hours. When it quickly became a Category 4 hurricane last week, stunning meteorologists, it hit wind speeds of at least 130 miles per hour.
Then, it quickly strengthened to a Category 5, and its winds hit at least 150 mph almost immediately. This fast-moving and strengthening storm has increasingly worried weather experts, especially now that it’s headed toward Texas and the U.S.
A Changing Hurricane
However, there are some positives to be seen, as analysts have noted that Beryl has lessened to a Category 3 after rising to these extremes.
When Beryl officially made landfall in the Windward Islands Monday morning, it had maximum winds of 150 miles per hour.
A Category 2 Hurricane
Now, Beryl is considered a Category 2 hurricane. Its wind speeds are around 110 mph and it has made landfall around Tulum, Mexico.
While Beryl could stay at Category 2 — or even lessen to Category 1 — some analysts have already sounded the alarm about the potential for the hurricane to suddenly increase overnight yet again.
Signs of a Strengthening Hurricane
Many meteorologists have even claimed that they’re seeing signs that the hurricane is strengthening yet again. Avery Tomasco, a CBS Austin meteorologist, explained this data on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Welp… Beryl is strengthening once again. Hurricane Hunters sampling pressure that is dropping rather quickly. It will weaken over the Yucatán after landfall, but this unexpected strengthening means a stronger Beryl will move into the Gulf on Friday,” he posted.
The Gulf of Mexico
According to Tomasco’s posts on X, the Gulf of Mexico could really change Beryl and help to make it stronger. If Beryl is stronger when it passes over the Gulf, the warm water there could help it reorganize and strengthen very quickly.
Tomasco wrote on X, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Never trust the Gulf of Mexico. Rapid intensification of Beryl on approach to Texas is not off the table.”
A Crucial Time
Now that Beryl has made landfall in Tulum, Mexico, weather experts are waiting to see how the hurricane acts as it possibly reorganizes over the Gulf. Though the landfall will weaken the hurricane somewhat, its emergence in the Gulf could help it strengthen almost immediately.
“Now, we wait… The next ~18 hours will be crucial to see how much Beryl weakens over land and how eager it is to reorganize over the gulf beginning Friday night,” Tomasco said on X.
Forecasts So Far
Thus far, meteorologists have forecasted that Beryl will be, at the very least, a Category 1 storm when it hits the Texas coastline in the early hours of Monday morning.
However, the next almost 24 hours could bring about differing forecasts, especially as weather experts see how Beryl acts while in the Gulf’s warm waters.
Texas Impacts
Beryl is anticipated to impact various parts of Southern Texas at the beginning of next week.
Impacted areas include Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Houston, San Antonio, and Waco. Meanwhile, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has forecast that the storm’s force winds may arrive in Texas as early as Sunday.
A Deadly Hurricane
Beryl has already become a deadly hurricane, as it has killed at least 9 people since it hit landfall this week.
Other deadly factors associated with this hurricane will be seen in Texas on Friday, as analysts are warning the public of the potentially dangerous rip currents that will be seen along the Texas coast.
Warnings Are Already in Place
Officials throughout Texas have already sounded the alarm, putting tropical storm warnings in place.
“There is an increasing risk of strong winds, storm surge, and heavy rainfall in portions of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas late this weekend,” the NHC said. “Interests in these areas should closely monitor the progress of Beryl and updates to the forecast. Hurricane and Tropical Storm Watches will likely be issued later today.”
