What makes Hurricane Beryl so exceptional?

The devastating hurricane Beryl that is currently soaking the Caribbean has already shattered records for the earliest formation of an Atlantic storm of this magnitude.

Here’s what you need know about the hurricane, which is being driven by ocean temperatures that are higher than usual. Scientists describe it as exceptional in the context of climate change, but perhaps not unexpected.

Southeast of the Antilles, Beryl developed on Friday and strengthened quickly into a Category 1 storm on Saturday.

As to Brian McNoldy’s blog article, the hurricane is “the furthest east a hurricane has ever formed this early in the year,” according to studies on hurricanes from the University of Miami.

Waters in that part of the Atlantic are typically too cold to support hurricanes this time of year, Andra Garner, a climate scientist at Rowan University, told AFP.

Less than 24 hours later, by Sunday, Beryl became a major Category 4 storm.

“It’s hard to communicate how unbelievable this is,” McNoldy wrote.

“It’s startling to see this happen before your eyes, but it’s also kind of in line with what the science tells us we might expect in a warmer world,” added Garner.

“While it is unprecedented, I can’t say that it’s unexpected.”

Beryl also broke a record when it became a Category 4 storm: A hurricane of that level had never been recorded in the Atlantic in June.

A day later, on July 1st, it smashed records once more, becoming the earliest-ever Category 5 hurricane.

June 1st to November 30th is when the North Atlantic hurricane season occurs.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration states that significant storms, classified as Category 3 and above, typically develop near the end of August or the start of September.

The Atlantic Ocean’s temperature, which has been at record highs for more than a year, is the main driver behind these variables.

According to Garner, warm waters “can allow the storm to get going and to strengthen.”

“And when those waters are extra warm, warmer than we expect, it’s kind of like having an extra shot of caffeine in your coffee.”

According to NOAA, the temperature of the North Atlantic is currently 2 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit (1 to 3 degrees Celsius) warmer than usual.

May temperatures were fairly typical of August temperatures.

From the standpoint of climate science, Beryl is “almost exactly what we do expect,” according to Garner.