Hurricane Beryl is now a dangerous Category 4 storm and is expected to bring strong winds and storm surge to Jamaica on Wednesday (3), according to an update from the US National Hurricane Center.
Two major airports in Jamaica will close Tuesday night due to the threat of the storm.
Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport, the country’s largest, will temporarily close at 11:59 p.m. local time and remain closed throughout Wednesday to ensure security, according to a press release from the airport.
A comprehensive assessment will be conducted following the hurricane to determine when it will be safe to resume operations, the statement said.
Norman Manley International Airport in the nation’s capital Kingston will close at 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday night.
On Thursday (4), it is expected to hit the Cayman Islands, where a hurricane warning has already been issued.
Jamaica braces for severe impacts
As Hurricane Berly barrels toward Jamaica, the Caribbean island activated protocols under its Disaster Risk Management Act on Monday night (1st).
The Jamaican Meteorological Service issued a “hurricane warning” late Monday. Tropical storm-force winds are expected on Wednesday (3).
The emergency measures approved by the cabinet “grant additional authority to coordinate and execute a range of emergency response activities,” a government statement said on Monday (1).
“By invoking the Disaster Risk Management Act, we are taking a proactive stance to prepare and protect our nation against any potential threats posed by Beryl,” Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said following the announcement.
“The government machinery has been mobilized and we are ready to respond to any eventuality. We will face this storm together,” he highlighted.
Although Hurricane Beryl may begin to weaken Tuesday afternoon (2), its intensity is expected to remain near that of a major hurricane as it moves rapidly toward the central Caribbean.
Source: CNN Brasil
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