Hurricane Beryl Strengthens to Category 3, Heads Toward Mexican Resort Town

Hurricane Beryl Strengthens to Category 3, Heads Toward Mexican Resort Town

• Hurricane Beryl strengthens to Category 3, heads for Tulum.
• Tourists urged to leave beaches, shelters prepared.
• Beryl may weaken over Yucatan, re-strengthen in the Gulf.

Hurricane Beryl has regained strength, escalating to a Category 3 storm with wind speeds reaching 115 mph as it nears a potential direct hit on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, particularly the resort town of Tulum. This announcement comes from the US National Hurricane Center.

The hurricane, which had previously been the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic before weakening to Category 2, picked up momentum late Thursday. Mexican President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador issued a warning, urging residents and tourists to seek higher ground and shelters.

Tourist Precautions and Local Preparations:

Authorities are taking significant measures to ensure safety. Tourists have been advised to leave the beaches, with shelters being prepared and some coastal communities evacuated. In Tulum, which now hosts thousands of tourists daily, beachside hotels have been evacuated and essential services cut off.

Francisco Bencomo, the general manager of Hotel Umi in Tulum, confirmed that all guests had left and that the hotel is on complete lockdown. Emergency procedures are in place to ensure minimal impact.

Expected Path and Impact:

As of early Friday, the storm was about 90 miles southeast of Tulum, moving west at 16 mph. It is expected to weaken over the Yucatan Peninsula but may re-strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico, potentially making a second landfall near the Mexico-Texas border next week.

In addition to local preparations, military personnel are assisting in evacuations and ensuring that tourists and residents comply with safety measures. Authorities are moving sea turtle eggs to safer locations and preparing shelters at schools and hotels.

Previous Destruction:

Earlier, Beryl caused significant damage in the Caribbean, destroying homes and knocking out power in several islands, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, and Jamaica. Casualties have been reported, with the storm claiming lives in Grenada, Carriacou, and Venezuela.

As Hurricane Beryl approaches, residents and tourists in Tulum and the surrounding areas are bracing for impact, hoping for the best while preparing for the worst.