Catastrophic Hurricane Beryl slams into Grenada after making landfall in the Caribbean: Live updates

LIVE – Updated at 17:34

Hurricane Beryl is bringing deadly conditions to the Grenadine Islands, Carriacou Island and Grenada after making landfall on Monday morning.

The hurricane is bringing “catastrophic winds and life-threatening storm surge” as it hits the Windward Islands on Monday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The hurricane’s maximum sustained winds are at 150 mph as of late Monday morning. “This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation,” the NWS said.

The life-threatening storm is devastating communities in the eastern Caribbean. Some 400 people were evacuated to hurricane shelters in Barbados on Sunday, CNN reports. Airports in Barbados, Grenada, and Saint Lucia closed on Sunday night.

The storm broke records over the weekend: Beryl is the earliest recorded Category 4 and the first major hurricane to reach east of the Lesser Antilles in June.

Hurricane Beryl marks the start of a notably early hurricane season, experts say. Record-warm ocean temperatures made the storm grow from a tropical depression to a hurricane in just two days.

Beryl “is rewriting the history books in all the wrong ways,” according to Eric Blake, senior hurricane specialist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Key Points

• Mapped: Hurricane Beryl’s path
• Hurricane Beryl fueled by warm ocean temperatures amid climate crisis

SEE IT: Lightning flashes in Hurricane Beryl’s eye wall

17:34 , Katie Hawkinson

Video: Hurricane Beryl brings storm surge to southern Barbados coast

17:15 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl brought a dangerous storm surge — that is, a rise in sea levels — to the southern Barbados coast on Monday morning.

The Category 4 hurricane then made landfall on Carriacou Island late Monday morning, bringing 150 mph sustained winds.

Hurricane Beryl brings ‘catastrophic’ winds and ‘life-threatening’ conditions to several islands

16:58 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl is bringing catastrophic winds and life-threatening storm surge to the Grenadine Islands, Carriacou Island and Grenada, the National Weather Service said.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds increased to 150 mph earlier this morning as it made landfall on Carriacou Island.

In pictures: Hurricane Beryl brings ‘life-threatening’ winds and flooding

16:44 , Katie Hawkinson

Waves hit wind-swept palm trees as Hurricane Beryl hits Hastings, Barbados on Monday (AP)

Hurricane Beryl floods a street in Hastings, Barbados on Monday (AP)

Waves hit a pier in Bridgetown, Barbados as Hurricane Beryl blows through on Monday (AP)

Satellite imagery shows Hurricane Beryl making landfall

16:35 , Katie Hawkinson

Satellite imagery shows Hurricane Beryl making landfall on Carriacou Island late Monday morning, bringing 150 mph sustained winds (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Life-threatening Hurricane Beryl seen from space as Caribbean braces for Category 4 impact

16:05 , Katie Hawkinson

Life-threatening Hurricane Beryl seen from space as Caribbean braces for impact

Hurricane Beryl beats several records

15:52 , Katie Hawkinson

Beryl was named the earliest-ever Category 4 hurricane as it approached the eastern Caribbean over the weekend. Hurricane Beryl is also the first major hurricane to reach this far east in the month of June.

Meanwhile, record-high ocean temperatures helped the storm grow from a tropical depression to Category 4 over the weekend.

The life-threatening storm is expected to make landfall within the next hour.

“Residents in the Grenadine Islands and Carriacou Island should not leave their shelter as winds will rapidly increase within the eyewall of Beryl,” the National Hurricane Center said. “Remain in place through the passage of these life-threatening conditions and do not venture out in the eye of the storm.”

Hurricane Beryl making landfall within next two hours

15:36 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl is approaching the Windward Islands and will make landfall within the next hour or two, the National Hurricane Center said.

“This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation,” the National Hurricane Center posted. “Take action now to protect your life!”

Residents of the Grenadine Islands and Carriacou Island should stay inside as winds rapidly increase, according to the center.

Hurricane Beryl fueled by warm ocean temperatures amid climate crisis

15:25 , Katie Hawkinson

Record-warm ocean temperatures gave Hurricane Beryl the strength to grow from a tropical depression to a Category 4 storm in a matter of days.

“Beryl is rewriting the history books in all the wrong ways,” Eric Blake, senior hurricane specialist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), said.

The human-driven climate crisis plays a role in these rising temperatures. Oceans absorb more than 90 percent of excess heat produced by greenhouse gases, according to NOAA.

High ocean temperatures, in addition to fueling storms like Hurricane Beryl, can contribute to sea level rise and hurt marine life.

Ocean temperatures will likely continue to rise even if we curb greenhouse gas emissions, according to NOAA.

In pictures: Communities brace for Hurricane Beryl

15:09 , Katie Hawkinson

Communities in the eastern Caribbean rushed to complete preparations this weekend as Hurricane Beryl grew from a tropical depression to a Category 4 in a few days.

People shop for supplies in Bridgetown, Barbados on Sunday as Hurricane Beryl races towards the eastern Caribbean (REUTERS)

A man drills wood onto a door as Hurricane Beryl approaches in Calliaqua, St Vincent and the Grenadines on Sunday (AP)

Workers place sandbags in front of doors to prepare for Hurricane Beryl in Bridgetown, Barbados on Sunday (AFP via Getty Images)

Mapped: Hurricane Beryl’s path

14:58 , Katie Hawkinson

Hurricane Beryl, now strengthened to Category 4, is set to bring “potentially catastrophic hurricane-force winds, a life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves” to the Windward Islands this morning.

The hurricane is set to move west throughout the week.

A map from the National Weather Service shows Hurricane Beryl’s path to the eastern Caribbean on Monday (National Weather Service)