CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hurricane Beryl is tearing through the Caribbean and it's already causing mass destruction. The earliest Category 5 hurricane in recorded history has thus far claimed the lives of at least two people.
The hurricane is also impacted summer vacation plans. Some people have had these Fourth of July trips planned for months to Jamaica, Playa Del Carmen and more. WCNC Charlotte's Weather Impact Team forecasts the Beryl will hit Jamaica late Wednesday before striking the Yucatán Peninsula Friday.
While the storm rages, Sarah Nivens and her family are going with the flow.
"We’ve been planning this since January and this is something we’ve been looking forward to," she said.
After her husband suffered recent medical issues, Niven's family had a cruise to look forward to. But Hurricane Beryl soiled some of their plans.
"Unfortunately some of the stops were taken off," Niven said. "But we knew that was the case when you cruise in the summer. They are keeping us safe and that's the priority."
Tuesday is shaping up to be the busiest travel time to date at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. People told WCNC Charlotte reporter Austin Walker they are still traveling to Jamaica and are braving the storm.
Airlines have advised travelers of the storm and recommended that if they are going to cancel plans to do it soon.
Nicole Terherst Amezcua's family lives in Playa Del Carmen and she's supposed to fly out to meet them on Wednesday. She said her dad has been updating her with the weather.
“Things are boarded up, there’s already things being canceled," she said. "Because locals are not so trained, but familiar with the procedures, they don’t seem as worried about this kind of thing.”
Contact Austin Walker at awalker@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.