Beryl spent more than a week ravaging parts of the Caribbean, Mexico and the U.S. as a major hurricane-turned-tropical storm and back to a hurricane where it made landfall in Texas.Its path over the Atlantic left a trail of devastation that is rarely seen this early in the year, and it shattered multiple records to start the 2024 hurricane season.Related: Beryl now tropical depression, moves away from Texas after destructive landfall as hurricaneIntensity timeline Starting as a tropical wave at the end of June, the system strengthened to a tropical depression over two days. The National Hurricane Center then identified the system as a tropical depression in its 5 p.m. advisory on June 28. By 11 p.m., it had strengthened into a named hurricane.The following day, Beryl developed an eye and reached Category 4 status, with sustained winds of 150 miles per hour as it landed in the Windward Islands.Beryl then underwent an eyewall replacement cycle, temporarily weakening and then strengthening into a Category 5 hurricane as it headed toward Jamacia.Within three days, the system had organized from a tropical wave to a hurricane, and one day later had jumped from a category 1 hurricane to a Category 5.Why record-breaking?Hurricane Beryl broke records as the strongest hurricane on record for both June and July, in addition to having some of the most rapid intensification before the peak of the hurricane season in September. Previously, the only case of a Category 5 hurricane in July was Hurricane Emily on July 16, 2005, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While record-breaking storms like these can have atypical conditions that lead to their formation, there has been a notable pattern that has been increasing the frequency and intensity of potentially devastating tropical weather. NOAA attributes climate change as main contributor to Beryl's development – it created abnormally high sea surface temperatures, as well as the transition out of El Niño to a La Niña. These conditions aligning created a very "hurricane-friendly" environment in the tropical Atlantic this year.Global temperaturesWarm ocean temperatures helped forecast Beryl's intense strengthening.According to the NOAA's Global Climate Report, May ocean temperature anomalies had reached over 2.12 degrees Fahrenheit (1.18 degrees Celsius) above the 20th-century average. This warm environment fuels tropical weather, producing significantly stronger storms that can organize into intense hurricanes.Related: WESH 2 Hurricane Survival Guide 2024A typical hurricane season will have July water temperatures in the 70s, possibly reaching the low 80s. This season had abnormally high water temperatures reaching the high 80s and even the low 90s in some parts of the Caribbean according to NOAA. NOAA says human-induced climate change has the potential to increase the proportion of very intense cyclones which could increase the number of billion-dollar disasters incurred by tropical weather.El Niño vs. La Niña conditionsAnother large indicator of an active and intense hurricane season comes from the transition of a strong El Niño to a La Niña later this summer.While La Niña conditions are still inactive, the shift out of one of the strongest El Niños ever has decreased the amount of wind shear coming from the west toward the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.During El Niño, ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific are warmer than average, which is linked to more storms and rainfall, leaving the Atlantic with unfavorable conditions for development. A La Niña season is the opposite of this. Cooler water wells in the eastern Pacific create a region of sinking air and high pressure. This leaves the Atlantic an unstable environment, increasing the chances for storm organization. Related: Hurricane KidCast: What's a hurricane? And more answers to kids' questionsThe remainder of the season Without enough wind shear to blow apart storms that are trying to organize, coupled with the above-average sea temperatures, the explosive pattern observed with Beryl may be seen again this season. Should these conditions persist, regardless if La Niña fully develops, the number of potentially devastating hurricanes that could impact the Americas and the Caribbean will continue to increase. Related: Surviving the Season | 2024 Hurricane Special from WESH 2
ORLANDO, Fla. — Beryl spent more than a week ravaging parts of the Caribbean, Mexico and the U.S. as a major hurricane-turned-tropical storm and back to a hurricane where it made landfall in Texas.
Its path over the Atlantic left a trail of devastation that is rarely seen this early in the year, and it shattered multiple records to start the 2024 hurricane season.
Related: Beryl now tropical depression, moves away from Texas after destructive landfall as hurricane
Intensity timeline
Starting as a tropical wave at the end of June, the system strengthened to a tropical depression over two days. The National Hurricane Center then identified the system as a tropical depression in its 5 p.m. advisory on June 28.
By 11 p.m., it had strengthened into a named hurricane.
The following day, Beryl developed an eye and reached Category 4 status, with sustained winds of 150 miles per hour as it landed in the Windward Islands.
Beryl then underwent an eyewall replacement cycle, temporarily weakening and then strengthening into a Category 5 hurricane as it headed toward Jamacia.
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Within three days, the system had organized from a tropical wave to a hurricane, and one day later had jumped from a category 1 hurricane to a Category 5.
Why record-breaking?
Hurricane Beryl broke records as the strongest hurricane on record for both June and July, in addition to having some of the most rapid intensification before the peak of the hurricane season in September. Previously, the only case of a Category 5 hurricane in July was Hurricane Emily on July 16, 2005, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
While record-breaking storms like these can have atypical conditions that lead to their formation, there has been a notable pattern that has been increasing the frequency and intensity of potentially devastating tropical weather.
NOAA attributes climate change as main contributor to Beryl's development – it created abnormally high sea surface temperatures, as well as the transition out of El Niño to a La Niña. These conditions aligning created a very "hurricane-friendly" environment in the tropical Atlantic this year.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Global temperatures
Warm ocean temperatures helped forecast Beryl's intense strengthening.
According to the NOAA's Global Climate Report, May ocean temperature anomalies had reached over 2.12 degrees Fahrenheit (1.18 degrees Celsius) above the 20th-century average. This warm environment fuels tropical weather, producing significantly stronger storms that can organize into intense hurricanes.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Chart of May average temperature anomalies globally for land and ocean from 1850 to 2024. The chart’s trend displays below-average temperature anomalies from 1850 to ~1940, with a drastic increase in warm temperature anomalies from 1970 to 2024.
Related: WESH 2 Hurricane Survival Guide 2024
A typical hurricane season will have July water temperatures in the 70s, possibly reaching the low 80s. This season had abnormally high water temperatures reaching the high 80s and even the low 90s in some parts of the Caribbean according to NOAA.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic on June 29, 2024, compared to July 1, 2000. Areas in orange depict temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit—the temperature needed to fuel hurricane development. Temperatures across the main hurricane development region at the end of June 2024 were much warmer and more widespread than on July 1, 2000, in which temperatures were closer to average. Climate.gov
NOAA says human-induced climate change has the potential to increase the proportion of very intense cyclones which could increase the number of billion-dollar disasters incurred by tropical weather.
El Niño vs. La Niña conditions
Another large indicator of an active and intense hurricane season comes from the transition of a strong El Niño to a La Niña later this summer.
While La Niña conditions are still inactive, the shift out of one of the strongest El Niños ever has decreased the amount of wind shear coming from the west toward the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
During El Niño, ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific are warmer than average, which is linked to more storms and rainfall, leaving the Atlantic with unfavorable conditions for development.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Typical influence of El Niño on Pacific and Atlantic seasonal hurricane activity. Map by NOAA Climate.gov, based on originals by Gerry Bell.
A La Niña season is the opposite of this. Cooler water wells in the eastern Pacific create a region of sinking air and high pressure. This leaves the Atlantic an unstable environment, increasing the chances for storm organization.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Typical influence of La Niña on Pacific and Atlantic seasonal hurricane activity. Map by NOAA Climate.gov, based on originals by Gerry Bell.
Related: Hurricane KidCast: What's a hurricane? And more answers to kids' questionsThe remainder of the season
Without enough wind shear to blow apart storms that are trying to organize, coupled with the above-average sea temperatures, the explosive pattern observed with Beryl may be seen again this season.
Should these conditions persist, regardless if La Niña fully develops, the number of potentially devastating hurricanes that could impact the Americas and the Caribbean will continue to increase.
Related: Surviving the Season | 2024 Hurricane Special from WESH 2
