Source: CNN
Beryl has not made landfall in Jamaica, but the island was nonetheless pounded by the storm as a strong Category 4 hurricane with destructive winds and storm surge.
Jamaica is no stranger to tropical cyclones, but a direct hit from a tropical storm or hurricane is rare.
Only two hurricanes have made landfall in the country in the last 40 years: Sandy in 2012 and Gilbert in 1988.
Sandy was a Category 1 hurricane when it slammed into Jamaica in 2012. But 1988’s Gilbert is perhaps the most infamous storm Jamaica ever endured.
Gilbert roared ashore along Jamaica’s southern coast on September 12, 1988, packing sustained winds of 130 mph, making it a Category 4 by today’s standards. The hurricane inflicted catastrophic damage that totalled at least $2 billion at the time and led to the deaths of at least 45 people.
Notably, the “B” storm name for 1988’s Atlantic hurricane season was also dubbed Beryl. It formed in August, reached tropical storm strength, and made landfall in Louisiana.
It’s more common for tropical cyclones to track near Jamaica and lash the island with strong winds and rain without directly striking the country.
Seven named cyclones have passed within 100 miles of Jamaica since the 2020 hurricane season: 2020’s Laura, Nana and Delta; 2021’s Elsa, Grace and Ida; and 2022’s Lisa.