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The Mexican Caribbean government has activated a number of emergency weather protocols as hurricane Beryl continues to approach Cancun.
Although currently only representing a low to moderate threat level to Quintana Roo, hurricane Beryl has the potential to cause mass devastation should it directly hit the touristy region.
There are currently some 400,000 International travelers in Cancun and other nearby hotspots, the protection of whom is of utmost priority for the local government.
With hurricane Berly just hours away from making landfall in the eastern Caribbean, here’s the latest on Cancun’s storm protocols.
Cancun Government Steps Up Storm Measures As Hurricane Beryl Strengthens
Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean are in the midst of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. The region is already feeling the effects of the first category 4 hurricane of the year – hurricane Beryl – which has intensified in strength rapidly.
As of July 3, the category 4 hurricane is sweeping through the eastern Caribbean as it slowly heads towards the Gulf of Mexico, where it is expected to hit parts of the Mexican Caribbean.
Although meteorologists say the hurricane will decrease in strength as it approaches Quintana Roo, it still has the potential to wreak havoc in the region, causing widespread damage to homes and businesses.
Yesterday, the local government activated hurricane protocols to protect more than 400,000 international travelers currently vacationing in the Mexican Caribbean.
Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean are currently under a green alert due to the approaching hurricane, the second-lowest on the local hurricane alert system.
Travelers are being told to increase precautions over the following days and to heed weather warnings as meteorologists continue to track Hurricane Beryl.
A number of popular resort hotspots in the region are preparing for the effects of the hurricane. In Playa del Carmen, more than 140 employees from the city’s environmental agency have begun safeguarding infrastructure and setting up barriers to protect beachfront hotels, resorts, and other businesses.
Meanwhile, Cancun’s transportation network – including the Maya Train, busses, and ferries – are awaiting updates from meteorologists, which will determine whether they can continue to operate normally throughout the hurricane.
Hurricane Beryl is expected to make landfall in the Mexican Caribbean on Thursday evening, although residents and travelers are being warned of heavy precipitation and rain well before that.
The tropical hurricane is currently moving at a speed of 35 kilometers per hour, with wind speeds reaching up to 295 kilometers per hour. Earlier a category 5 storm, the hurricane has since then been downgraded to a category 4 system.
Hurricane Beryl is currently projected to impact the municipalities of Tulum and Felipe Carrillo Puerto; northern destinations like Cancun appear to fall just outside the trajectory of the powerful storm, although its effects will still be felt there.
Travelers are advised to consult their resort’s hurricane evacuation plan and protocol and to avoid the coastline during the late hours of Thursday.
Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean are some of the better-prepared locations in terms of tropical storms and hurricanes, with the local government maintaining a detailed safety plan.
Travelers can check the latest hurricane updates on the National Hurricane Center and Mexico’s Meteorological Institute.
Despite its location along the Gulf of Mexico, Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean are rarely directly impacted by hurricanes, with Hurricane Wilma in 2005 being the last major storm to affect the region. Even so, heavy wind & rain is not unusual during the hurricane season, occasionally causing flooding.
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