Riviera Maya, Q.R. — The state of Quintana Roo is officially under a red alert (maximum danger). The alert was issued by State Civil Protection shortly after 5:00 p.m. local time.
The red alert has been issued specifically for the municipalities of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Tulum, Solidaridad (Puerto Aventuras/Playa del Carmen) and José María Morelos, however, hurricane watches remain in effect from Cancun to Mahahual.
Photo: State Civil Protection July 4, 2024.
In a brief notice, the Coordinación Estatal de Protección Civil QRoo said “based on the information issued by the National Hurricane Center in Miami and disseminated by the National Meteorological Service (SMN) on monitoring and surveillance for the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, Beryl is a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
“Its center is located 320 km southeast of Cancun and 345 km east-southeast of Tulum, Q. Roo. It has maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h and gusts of 215 km/h and movement towards the west-northwest at 31 km/h. Beryl’s cloud bands will cause torrential rains (150 to 250 mm) in Quintana Roo, wind gusts of 120 to 140 km/h and waves of 4 to 6 meters high on the state’s coasts.
“A hurricane watch is maintained from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun including Cozumel and a tropical storm watch from Cancun to Campeche.
“It is forecast to impact tonight or early Friday morning as a Category 2 hurricane between the municipalities of Tulum and Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Beryl remains under permanent surveillance and any significant changes will be reported.”
Intermittent rain accompanied by winds have already begun to hit the region. Beryl’s nearing presence can be felt from Cancun to Mahahual. Gusts began mid-afternoon that eventually erased a perfectly blue sky and forewarned beachgoers of what’s to come.
According to forecast updates, Hurricane Beryl will pass over the Yucatan Peninsula and eventually exit in the Bay of Campeche where it is expected to regain hurricane strength as it heads up the Gulf of Mexico.
There is a possibility Hurricane Beryl will hit the state of Texas with heavy rain and possible coastal flooding from Galveston to South Padre Island, and the Florida Panhandle.
