Hurricane Beryl has become an "extremely dangerous" category four storm in the Atlantic Ocean and is expected to bring life-threatening winds and flash flooding to the Caribbean's Windward Islands.
The first hurricane of the 2024 season was located about 500 kilometres east-southeast of Barbados on Sunday midday, with maximum sustained winds of 215 km/h, the US National Hurricane centre said in an advisory.
The centre of the hurricane is expected to travel across the southeastern and central Caribbean sea late Monday through Wednesday.
It is rare for a major hurricane to appear this early in the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.
On Sunday, Beryl became the earliest category four hurricane on record, beating Hurricane Dennis, which became a category four on July 8, 2005, according to NHC data.
Hurricane warnings have been issued in Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands, Grenada and Tobago.
"A life-threatening storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels," the NHC warned in its advisory.
The agency said the islands should brace for up to 15cm of rain.
Large, dangerous swells are also expected to batter the southern coasts of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola.
Beryl is expected to remain a hurricane as it heads toward Mexico. (AP PHOTO)
It is a compact storm, with hurricane-force winds extending 30 kilometres from its centre.
Beryl is expected to pass just south of Barbados early Monday and then head into the Caribbean Sea as a major hurricane on a path toward Jamaica.
It is expected to weaken by midweek, but still remain a hurricane as it heads toward Mexico.
Long lines formed at gas stations and grocery stores in Barbados and other islands as people rushed to prepare.
Warm waters were fueling Beryl, with ocean heat content in the deep Atlantic the highest on record for this time of year, according to Brian McNoldy, University of Miami tropical meteorology researcher.
"Please take this very seriously and prepare yourselves," Ralph Gonsalves, the prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines said.
Thousands of people were in Barbados for Saturday's Twenty20 World Cup final, cricket's biggest event, with Prime Minister Mia Mottley noting that not all fans were able to leave Sunday despite many rushing to change their flights.
"Some of them have never gone through a storm before," she said.
"We have plans to take care of them."
Mottley said that all businesses should close by Sunday evening and warned the airport would close by night time.
Meanwhile, St Lucia Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre announced a national shutdown for Sunday evening and said that schools and businesses would remain closed on Monday.
"Preservation and protection of life is a priority," he said.
Caribbean leaders were preparing not only for Beryl, but for a cluster of thunderstorms trailing the hurricane that have a 70 per cent chance of becoming a tropical depression.
"Do not let your guard down," Mottley said.
With Reuters