Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in Yucatan Peninsula as Category 2 storm, sets sights on Texas

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Hurricane Beryl continues to leave a destructive path across the Caribbean, but new tracks show the storm approaching the United States soon.The dangerous storm was downgraded from a Category 5 hurricane to a Category 4 on Tuesday afternoon before slamming into Jamaica on Wednesday afternoon.Now a Category 2 storm, Beryl moved past the Cayman Islands on Thursday and made landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula early Friday morning.Latest advisoryIn its 8 a.m. advisory, the NHC said Beryl has maximum sustained wind speeds of 110 mph and a minimum central pressure of 980 mb as it made landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula.Parts of the Yucatan Peninsula are expected to experience hurricane-force winds, dangerous storm surges, and heavy rainfall throughout Friday morning, according to the NHC.In the northeastern part of Mexico and southern Texas, there is an increasing risk of strong wind, storm surge and heavy rainfall as the weekend rolls around. Beryl is expected to quickly weaken after making landfall, even being downgraded to a tropical storm. However, as the storm moves into the Gulf of Mexico, there is a chance for slight formation again. Models once showed Beryl making landfall in Mexico, but more recent models favor landfall in Texas next week, even impacting the Houston area. >> Click here to track Hurricane Beryl Deaths reportedThree people were reported killed in Grenada and Carriacou and another in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, officials said. Two other deaths were reported in northern Venezuela, where five people are missing, officials said. Some 25,000 people in that area also were affected by heavy rainfall from Beryl.One fatality in Grenada occurred after a tree fell on a house, Kerryne James, the environment minister, told The Associated Press.She said Carriacou and Petit Martinique sustained the greatest damage, with scores of homes and businesses flattened in Carriacou.Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said Tuesday there was no power, roads are impassable, and the possible rise of the death toll “remains a grim reality.”Current threatsJamaica’s southern coast, where Kingston is located, bore the brunt of Beryl on Wednesday, with coastal water levels rising to 6 or 9 feet above normal tide levels in some areas. After that, the Cayman Islands experienced some destruction after Beryl passed just south of it on Thursday. Now, the Yucatan coast is feeling the storm’s impact. The government issued a hurricane warning for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun.Other portions remain under a tropical storm warning.More: Difference between tropical storm, hurricane watch and warningThe NHC says these areas should brace for strong winds, dangerous storm surge, damaging waves and severe flooding. Officials also warn all interests in these areas that Beryl can cause life-threatening rip currents.The NHC says residents in the Yucatan Peninsula should shelter in place as these life-threatening conditions pass through on Friday.Additionally, the NHC says residents in Mexico and Texas should monitor Beryl as dangerous conditions could begin late in the weekend. According to officials, there will be hurricane warnings and other alerts issued soon. First landfallBeryl first made landfall in the Windward Islands late Monday morning as a Category 4 storm, the National Hurricane Center said.Hurricane Beryl initially developed as Invest 95-L and was later upgraded to a tropical storm last Friday afternoon before strengthening into a hurricane. Related: Hurricane KidCast: What’s a hurricane? And more answers to kids’ questionsRelated: Surviving the Season | 2024 Hurricane Special fromRelated: WESH 2 Hurricane Survival Guide 2024>> The Associated Press contributed to this story.