Before Beryl, the last Cat 5 hurricane this early was in 2005, the same year as Katrina
Alexis SimmermanHurricane Beryl has made a name for itself (literally) by breaking several records. Before making landfall in Texas early Monday morning, Beryl became the earliest Category 4 storm and then the earliest Category 5 storm on record.
Hurricane Beryl breaks records
Beryl transitioned from a tropical storm to a major hurricane with huge increases in wind speed, gaining 95 mph in less than two days, a process known as rapid intensification. It broke the Category 4 and Category 5 records held by two separate storms in 2005, one of the most catastrophic seasons on record.
On July 1, Beryl became the earliest Category 4 storm after hitting the island of Grenada and strengthening over warm seas. Hurricane Dennis was the previous record holder, entering the category on July 8, 2005.
Beryl strengthened to a Category 5 storm the next day and broke the record by more than two weeks. The only other Atlantic Category 5 storm to form in July was Hurricane Emily, on July 17, 2005.
Comparing the 2005 and 2024 hurricane seasons
How does Hurricane Beryl compare with Hurricane Katrina?
Like Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Beryl developed rapidly, escalating from Category 4 to 5 over a day. Both hurricanes also made landfall three times.
Here are some fast facts to compare the two storms:
| Status | Hurricane Katrina | Hurricane Beryl |
| Tropical depression | August 23, 2005 | June 28, 2024 |
| Tropical storm | August 24, 2005 | June 28, 2024 |
| Category 4 | August 28, 2005 | July 1, 2024 |
| Category 5 | August 28, 2005 | July 2, 2024 |
| First landfall | August 29, 2005: near Buras, Louisiana | July 1, 2024: Carriacou Island, Grenada |
| Second landfall | August 29, 2005: Louisiana-Mississippi border | July 5, 2024: near Tulum, Mexico |
| Third landfall | August 29, 2005: near the Louisiana-Mississippi border | July 8, 2024: near Matagorda, Texas |
Why did Hurricane Katrina make history?
In 2005, Katrina became one of the costliest and deadliest hurricanes to hit the U.S. in recorded history. It claimed 1,833 lives and caused damage totaling about $108 billion, as measured in 2005 currency. Its maximum wind speeds at landfall might have been as high as 140 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
As of Monday morning, Hurricane Beryl was responsible for at least 13 deaths. At least 11 people died as the then-Category 5 hurricane passed through the Caribbean islands. Two more people died in Harris County after trees fell on their houses in separate incidents Monday morning, sheriff's officials said.
Beryl's wind speeds peaked at 165 mph on July 2.
