Colombia’s Tropical Cyclone Warning Technical Board is monitoring the advance of Hurricane Beryl, whose effects will be felt today in the northern department of La Guajira.

This region will experience wind gusts, increased rainfall and altered ocean conditions, according to the organisation, which includes the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam), the General Maritime Directorate, the Civil Aeronautics, the Air Force and the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management.

«The influence of Hurricane Beryl is expected in the morning hours, so a gradual increase in wave height and wind speed is expected, especially for the northern part of the Colombian Caribbean coast and tropical storm conditions are not ruled out for the maritime and coastal area of La Guajira,» they explained.

The head of Ideam’s Forecasts and Alerts Service, Tatiana Sierra, explained that Beryl will not touch Colombian territory, but will pass through the sea in front of La Guajira.

«It could bring rain, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms,» she told the media.

As a precaution, in addition to La Guajira, there is a warning alert for the departments of Magdalena, Atlántico, Bolívar, for the islands of San Andrés, Providencia, Santa Catalina and the keys.

Meanwhile, the surveillance alert remains in force for Sucre, Córdoba, Antioquia and Chocó.

Last night, Beryl reached category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, the highest for this type of event, and its maximum sustained winds increased to about 257 kilometres per hour, with even higher gusts, according to the US National Hurricane Centre.

During the course of the day, it should move to the near west-west, to transit the seas to the south and somewhat distant from the Dominican Republic.