Shortly after making landfall on Grenada’s Carriacou Island, Hurricane Beryl rapidly intensified into a "potentially catastrophic" Category 5 storm late Monday evening, with maximum sustained winds reaching 160 mph by 11 p.m., as reported by the National Hurricane Center (NHC). This escalation marked Beryl as the first Category 5 hurricane of the Atlantic season, significantly heightening the threat level for the region.

As the hurricane continued its westward path through the Caribbean, concerns mounted over its potential impact on Jamaica. Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged Jamaicans to take immediate precautions, elevating the advisory to a hurricane warning and stressing the severity of the impending storm. With forecasts indicating Beryl would maintain its status as a major hurricane, preparations were underway across Jamaica for potentially destructive winds and heavy rainfall.

Earlier, Beryl had already caused substantial damage and claimed at least one life in St. Vincent as a Category 4 hurricane when it made landfall on Carriacou, prompting emergency measures across several Caribbean nations. The Cayman Islands issued a hurricane watch in anticipation of worsening conditions, while reports from affected areas detailed scenes of devastation, including widespread property damage and communication disruptions.

Barbados experienced power outages and flooding as Beryl passed through, highlighting the storm's disruptive impact across the region. Meteorologists from the NHC emphasized the unprecedented nature of Beryl's rapid intensification to a Category 4 hurricane in June, surpassing historical records set by earlier storms like Hurricane Dennis in 2005. They anticipated its trajectory to continue across the Caribbean Sea, potentially affecting the southern coasts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti with tropical storm conditions.

Despite expectations of slight weakening due to less favorable atmospheric conditions, Beryl remained a formidable hurricane, poised to bring storm surges and heavy rainfall along its path. With Jamaica facing the greatest immediate threat, authorities prepared for significant disruptions to daily life and potential infrastructure damage.

Looking ahead, forecasts suggested Beryl could weaken to a Category 2 storm as it approached the Yucatán Peninsula, eventually transitioning into a tropical storm upon entering the Gulf of Mexico. The storm's unpredictable behavior underscored the challenges posed by Atlantic hurricanes, exacerbated by climate change's influence on ocean temperatures, which contribute to intensified storm activity.

Emergency services across the region mobilized to minimize Beryl's impact, highlighting the resilience of communities as they braced for the worst. Ongoing monitoring and updates from meteorological agencies played a crucial role in guiding response efforts amidst an increasingly volatile hurricane season.