What is a hurricane season?
Hurricane seasons are annual periods during which tropical storms are most likely to form, fueled by strong ocean breezes, warm seas and humidity.
In the Atlantic Ocean this typically lasts from June through November, peaking in the late summer.
The Atlantic is also home to the so-called Hurricane Alley, or Main Development Region (MDR), a stretch of warmer water spanning from West Africa to much of the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico and the southern United States
What is category 5?
A Category 5 is the strongest hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale, bringing winds of 157 mph (252 kph) or higher, capable of causing catastrophic damage including the destruction of homes and infrastructure.
Since 1960, only 30 Atlantic hurricanes have reached Category 5, with 2005 - the year deadly Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans - setting the record for the most recorded in a single season, at four.
Why is Beryl so early?
Hurricane Beryl is the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic, according to the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization.
A reason Beryl had developed so early on in the season was because the MDR is hitting its warmest ever temperatures.
Scientists say a streak of record temperatures in the North Atlantic since early last year would be extremely unlikely without climate change, driven by man-made fossil fuel emissions.
Higher water temperatures allow storms to intensify quicker, and ocean temperatures of at least 26.5°C (79.7°F) are needed to maintain a tropical cyclone.
According to U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), north Caribbean coastal water temperatures are hovering around 29.4°C (85°F)
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