Hurricane Beryl Bearing Down on Caribbean as ‘Extremely Dangerous Major Hurricane’

The second named storm of the 2024 hurricane season, and the first hurricane, is headed towards the Windward Islands this morning.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said early on Monday that Hurricane Beryl is expected to “remain an extremely dangerous major hurricane” when it reaches the Windward Isands (Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenadines, and Grenada) sometime on Monday morning.

The islands at the highest risk right now, according to the NHC, are St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“This is a very dangerous situation,” the NHC wrote. “Potentially catastrophic hurricane-force winds, a life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves are expected.”

The NHC has a Hurricane Warning in effect for Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands, Grenada, and Tobago.

It also has a Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Martinique and Trinidad and a Tropical Storm Watch warning for Dominica, the south coast of the Dominican Republic, and the South Coast of Haiti.

Hurricane Beryl timing

Beryl will hit the Windward Islands sometime on Monday morning—as of 5 a.m., the storm was about 125 east-southeast of Grenada and about 130 miles southeast of St. Vincent, moving west at 20 mph.

After moving across the Windward Islands this morning, the NHC says the storm will then head across the southeastern and central Caribbean Sea late Monday through Wednesday. Though some weakening is expected as Beryl continues its path, the expectation is that it will remain a hurricane through at least midweek.

Airline waivers

A few airlines have issued waivers ahead of Beryl’s arrival in the Caribbean this week.

American Airlines has issued a waiver for travel through Argyle International (SVD), Grantley Adams International (BGI), Maurice Bishop International (GND), and Hewanorra International (UVF) for travel through July 2. Flyers can rebook new flights with the same origin and destination cities through July 7.

Caribbean Airlines has issued a waiver for all tickets rebooked in the same cabin, with the same destination and origin cities, for impacted flights. The slate of flights includes flights through Piarco International Airport (POS) in Trinidad, Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO) in Guyana, Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Jamaica, and Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in Nassau.

Delta Air Lines has issued a waiver for travel through Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) in St. Lucia for travel on July 1. New tickets can be issued for travel through July 4 without fees.

interCaribbean Airways is canceling all flights in and out of Barbados on July 1. It has waived change fees for all cancellations.

JetBlue has a waiver for travel through Grantley Adams International (BGI), Maurice Bishop International (GND), and Hewanorra International (UVF). Flyers can rebook their flights for travel through Thursday, July 4.

Cruise changes

Celebrity Cruises has adjusted the current itinerary for Celebrity Beyond, which departed Fort Lauderdale on June 29. All ports remain the same but the order of arrival has changed. Instead of Bonaire (Tues), Curacao (Wed), and Aruba (Thurs), the itinerary will be Aruba (Tues), Curacao (Wed), and Bonaire (Thurs).

Disney Fantasy, which is currently in the midst of a seven-night sailing that also departed Florida on June 29, will no longer call on Falmouth, Jamaica this Wednesday. The ship will instead spend the day at sea.

Carnival Horizon has canceled its scheduled stop at Grand Cayman on July 3, and replaced it with a day at sea. Carnival Liberty will visit Cozumel on July 2 instead of July 5, which will now be a day at sea.

Norwegian Cruise Line has also made two changes so far. Norwegian Breakaway, which left Miami on June 29 is swapping out all its ports for new ones. Instead of visiting Roatan, Harvest Caye, Costa Maya, and Cozumel, the ship will stop at Puerto Plata, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Great Stirrup Cay.

Norwegian Jade, which departed Port Canaveral on June 29 did visit Great Stirrup Cay as scheduled on Sunday, but is replacing its remaining port of calls. Instead of Falmouth, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel, the ship will stop at San Juan, Tortola, and Puerto Plata.