Hurricane Beryl Hits Jamaica After Leaving at Least 7 Dead
The Facts
Hurricane Beryl hit Jamaica on Wednesday as a Category 4 storm, with heavy rains and 145 mph (233 kph) winds reportedly knocking down power lines in the country that has been declared a disaster area and is now under a curfew.
The official death toll from the hurricane that has ripped through the Caribbean this week is now at seven, with reported deaths in Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Venezuela.
The Spin
Narrative A
Climate change is believed to have played a role in Hurricane Beryl becoming the earliest Category 4 Atlantic hurricane on record. With last year being the hottest on record, ocean temperatures are reaching new highs every day, resulting in stronger and more dangerous storms occurring at times earlier than usual.
Narrative B
It's easy to blame any strong hurricane on climate change, but in reality, they're usually influenced by a myriad of factors that have nothing to do with global warming. More research is needed before we can establish any direct causal link between the two.