'Monster Storm' Hurricane Beryl went through rapid intensification. How did it happen and why is it dangerous?

The monstrous storm Hurricane Beryl, which was classified as Category 5 and went from a tropical storm to the strongest Atlantic hurricane in June ever recorded, had gone through rapid intensification to reach this stage.

The storm had struck the Grenadine Islands with 150 mph winds and a destructive storm was created on July 1, 2024, which continued to intensify into the earliest Category 5 storm in the basin on record. 

Extensive damage was caused by the hurricane, particularly on Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Speaking at a press briefing, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said, "In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened."

It was pretty much unusual for the storm to gain strength and rapid intensification at such an early stage in the season.

The intensification was especially alarming even though forecasters were predicting exceptionally active Atlantic hurricane season.

Also Read: Hurricane Beryl: Jamaica braces for major hurricane after Caribbean rampage

In cases of such rapidly intensifying storms, the coastal communities face danger. For example, in 2022, portions of Florida were devastated by Hurricane Ian after it went through rapid intensification.

The residents have been recovering from its effects to this day. When Hurricane Beryl moved through the Caribbean Sea, hurricane warnings were issued in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

In a hurricane, rapid intensification happens when its intensity increases by nearly 35 mph over a 24-hour period. 

Hurricane Beryl had exceeded the threshold and moved from tropical storm strength at 70 mph to major hurricane strength at 130 mph in just 24 hours.

Warm water is the main reason that triggers rapid intensification. The ocean temperature should be greater than 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 Celsius), which is more than 150 feet below the surface. 

The energy required to turbocharge a hurricane is provided by the reservoir of warm water.

The reservoir of energy is measured as ocean heat content by the scientists. The ocean heat content which pushed Hurricane Beryl was extraordinarily high in comparison to the last years.

In a normal scenario, the ocean heat content does not reach such extraordinarily high levels in the tropical Atlantic till early September, which is when hurricane season generally peaks in activity.