Hurricane Beryl roared ashore on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula near the resort town of Tulum as a Category 2 storm early Friday, whipping trees and knocking out power after leaving a trail of destruction that killed at least 11 people across the Caribbean.
Beryl was expected to rapidly weaken to a tropical storm as it crosses over the peninsula before reemerging into the Gulf of Mexico and likely regaining hurricane strength, the US National Hurricane Center said.
Once in the warm waters of the Gulf, Beryl is forecast to head toward northern Mexico near the Texas border, an area soaked by Tropical Storm Alberto just a couple of weeks ago, according to The AP.
Beryl spread destruction in Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados this week after becoming the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic. Three people have been reported dead in Grenada, three in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, three in Venezuela and two in Jamaica, officials said.
After landfall in Mexico, Beryl’s maximum wind speeds had decreased to 100 mph (160 kph), but Tulum will continue to see “large and destructive waves,” the hurricane center said. The area faces heavy rainfall and potential flooding in the coming hours, according to forecasts from Mexico’s National Water Commission.
Mexican authorities had moved some tourists and residents out of low-lying areas around the Yucatan peninsula before landfall, but tens of thousands remained to tough out the strong winds and expected storm surge. Much of the area around Tulum is just a few yards (meters) above sea level.
The city was plunged into darkness when the storm knocked out power as it came ashore. Screeching winds set off car alarms across the town. Wind and rain continued to whip the seaside city and surrounding areas Friday morning.
No deaths or wounded had been reported, but 40% of Tulum continued to be without electricity, said Laura Velázquez, national coordinator of Mexican Civil Protection.
“Don't go out yet. Wait until the hurricane completely passes,” said Velázquez, speaking on a video in a morning press briefing.
