Hurricane Beryl Is Already Rerouting Cruise Ships, Here's What to Know
Cruise companies scramble to change course as another terrifying hurricane sweeps through the Atlantic.
Beryl is already making destructive history as only the second hurricane of the 2024 hurricane season. The former category five and now category four hurricane is barreling straight toward Jamaica, predicted to make landfall on Wednesday, July 3. At that time, the storm is expected to bring "life-threatening winds and storm surge" to Jamaica, according to the National Weather Service.
The storm has already made history as the earliest category five of the Atlantic hurricane season and caused total devastation on Grenada's Carriacou and St. Vincent. According to CNN, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said there were "widespread reports of destruction and devastation in Carriacou and Petite Martinique. In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened." As the dangerous storm makes its way across the Caribbean and toward North America, cruise companies are scrambling to get out of the storm's path.
The National Weather Service currently has a hurricane warning in place for:
- Jamaica
- Grand Cayman
- Little Cayman and Cayman Brac
To avoid the storm, Norwegian Cruise Line is rerouting Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Jade, according to USA Today. Additionally, Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Liberty and Carnival Horizon will also be rerouted, as well as Disney Cruise Line's Disney Fantasy Ship. If you are attending any of these cruises, you should check the recent correspondence from your cruise provider for details on changed routes.
To have such a powerful hurricane so early in July is a sign that this hurricane season could be fiercer and more dangerous this year. "Only one hurricane has ever affected Jamaica during July," Meteorologist Jesse Ferrell explained in Accuweather. "Category 4 Hurricane Dennis in 2005 did not make landfall but killed one person and caused a lot of damage."
The damage and danger facing Jamaica can't be understated. Looking at videos as Beryl passed through the Windward Islands was a chilling preview of the damage this early hurricane season storm could bring.
Traveling into the hurricane or living where a hurricane is headed? Here are some safety tips so that you know what to prepare for, whether the island you're on is on the East Coast or in the Atlantic.
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