'Extremely dangerous' Hurricane Beryl makes landfall on Carriacou Island

Hurricane Beryl made landfall on Carriacou Island,on Monday (Jul 1)at 11:10 am (local time). The National Hurricane Center said that the Category 4 storm triggered winds reaching 150 mph, up from 130 mph. Accuweather said the hurricane is not expected to make landfall in the United Statesbut it advised people to stay alert.

National Weather Service forecaster Eric Blake in a statement said the storm is expected to remain an "extremely dangerous major hurricane".

"Potentially catastrophic wind damage is expected where the core of Beryl moves through portions of the Windward Islands," Blake warned.

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An advisory by the weather service cautioned people in the Grenadine Islands and Grenada's Carriacou Island not to step outside as wind speed was expected to further increase.

"This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Take action now to protect your life!" the advisory warned. "Remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions and do not venture out in the eye of the storm."

Accuweather said the hurricane could become the strongest system to ever cross Grenada and portions of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Watch:Hurricane Beryl intensifies tor category 4 hurricane as it makes its way towards the Caribbean

Beryl on Friday (Jun 28) attained tropical storm status. It soon became a major hurricane Sunday as it approached the Caribbean and acquired Category 4 status the same day.

However, its speed decreased slightly overnight, making it a Category 3 storm. Beforeit gained strength again Monday(Jul 1) morning.

Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell urged residents to remain indoors and seek shelterand to follow an island-wide curfew ordered between7:00 pm to 7:00 am Tuesday.

Meanwhile, theisland of Barbados was battered by high winds and pelting rain. However, no injuries or loss of life were reported on the island, as perits minister of home affairs and information.

Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Tobago were all under hurricane warnings.

In Tobago, astate of emergency was declared.

(With inputs from agencies)