A "extremely dangerous hurricane" is on its way to hit the Caribbean, according to the American weather agency National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The hurricane, which has been named Beryl, could be the strongest to hit the area since Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and warnings have been issued for, among other places, Barbados and Tobago.
NHC warns that Beryl, a category 4 hurricane, could have devastating consequences with flooding and elevated water levels. Beryl is also the starting point for an unusually early hurricane season in the Atlantic.
So far, more than 400 people on Barbados have been evacuated to shelters, CNN reports, and airports have been closed in anticipation of the hurricane's arrival.
The "bathtub warm" water has facilitated Beryl's growth in strength and, according to CNN, is a clear indicator that the hurricane season will be far from normal.
Authorities in Barbados have already reported damages.
