UPDATE: Hurricane Beryl Intensifies Into Category 5 Storm After Causing "Widespread Destruction" in Caribbean

Keeping an eye on hurricane season can be incredibly important for upcoming summer Disney World trips.

Rainy Day at Animal Kingdom

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th, and it’s a pretty safe bet that at least one storm will have Florida in its path at one time or another. This year’s season is predicted to be even more active than prior years, and we have a new update on Hurricane Beryl, the first storm of the season.

After barreling through Barbados and Grenada as a Category 4 storm over the weekend and into Monday, Hurricane Beryl has intensified and become a Category 5 as it surges through the Caribbean. But, the National Hurricane Center expects Beryl to weaken on Tuesday and remain a Category 3 storm, according to The New York Times.

©New York Times

It is the earliest Atlantic Category 5 hurricane on record, said Colorado State University meteorologist Philip Klotzbach, who specializes in tropical cyclones.

Beryl made landfall on Monday and devastated islands in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a Category 4 storm, with officials reporting one death in each nation. The storm strengthened into a Category 5 after causing “widespread destruction” across Grenada’s three main islands.

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In addition to the wind and rain damage, Hurricane Beryl is also expected to raise water levels and cause a storm surge of up to five feet along the coast of Jamaica as the storm passes by it on Wednesday, July 3rd. Flash flooding is also a potential concern with three to six inches of rain predicted.

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The storm is expected to make it into the Gulf of Mexico, but experts say it’s “too soon” to predict what could happen if and when it does. Beryl is the first hurricane of the 2024 season and was downgraded before strengthening again into a Category 4 storm. As of Tuesday morning, sustained wind speeds increased to 165 mph — a Category 5 is classified as having wind speeds of 157 mph or higher. Any storm over 111 mph is considered a major storm.

For now, we’ll have to wait and see where Hurricane Beryl ends up going after it passes by Jamaica and through the Caribbean — potentially into the Gulf of Mexico. Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by this storm!

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And, if you happen to be in Disney World during a hurricane and Disney considers it unsafe for guests and Cast Members, you may be asked to shelter in place at your resort. This does not happen often as most of the time, the Disney World area just experiences a bit of rain. But it has happened and is something you want to keep in mind when planning a Disney trip during hurricane season.

If you find yourself in this situation, please follow all guidelines from Disney to ensure your safety during your trip. If it is safe to be in the parks, Disney will keep them open with some attractions and restaurants still available. Read more reader tips for riding out a hurricane at Disney World here.