CNN —Hurricane Beryl has strengthened into a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane — the earliest on record — as it powers across the Caribbean after bringing devastation to the Windward Islands, where at least one person is dead. Its intensity also marks just the second time an Atlantic hurricane has reached Category 5 status in July after Emily did so on July 17, 2005, according to the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Beryl “left in its wake immense destruction, pain, suffering, across our nation at this hour,” he said. The hurricane center also noted large swells from the storm will continue in the Windward and southern Leeward Islands for the next couple of days. The storm’s rapid intensification is very atypical this early into hurricane season, according to National Hurricane Center Director Mike Brennan.
