Hurricane Beryl, a Category 4 storm, is barreling across the Atlantic Ocean toward the Caribbean's Windward Islands, bringing life-threatening winds and potential flash flooding, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). On Sunday night, Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 season, was about 150 miles (240 km) southeast of Barbados, with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 kph).

The NHC stated that Beryl is expected to remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane as it moves through the Windward Islands into the eastern Caribbean. The hurricane's center is projected to pass through the Windward Islands on Monday morning, bringing potentially catastrophic wind damage to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada. This is an unusually early occurrence for a major hurricane in the Atlantic season, which spans from June 1 to November 30. Beryl has become the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record, surpassing Hurricane Dennis, which reached Category 4 status on July 8, 2005, according to NHC data.

Hurricane warnings have been issued for Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Tobago. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Dominica, Trinidad, and parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Authorities and residents in the Caribbean are preparing for the storm's impact. In Tobago, shelters have been opened, schools are closed for Monday, and elective surgeries in hospitals have been canceled.

The NHC warns that Beryl could bring 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 cm) of rain to Barbados and the Windward Islands on Monday, potentially causing flash flooding in vulnerable areas. Large, dangerous swells are also expected along the southern coasts of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola.

In May, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an above-normal hurricane season in the Atlantic for 2024, partly due to near-record warm ocean temperatures.