Hurricane Beryl strengthens to earliest category 5 storm on record as it pummels Caribbean
![Hurricane Beryl strengthens to earliest category 5 storm on record as it pummels Caribbean](https://s.france24.com/media/display/e7c3ea1c-37ed-11ef-8de2-005056a90284/w:1024/p:16x9/6d2fe4eb189950bfea0aa8f61c83428ee2824497.jpg)
Hurricane Beryl has strengthened to a “potentially catastrophic” Category 5 storm as it razed several islands in the Caribbean, the US National Hurricane Center said on Tuesday. Up to 7 storms of Category 3 or higher are expected this year due to warming ocean temperatures and weather patterns related to the La Nina phenomenon.