Kim Luciani,Cheryl McCloud,Grace PaterasUSA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
Hurricane Beryl strengthened Sunday to an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm with life-threatening winds and storm surge expected in the Caribbean by early Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center.
NOAA and Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft data indicated Beryl had strengthened to a category 4 hurricane Sunday. The maximum sustained winds are estimated to be 130 mph with higher gusts.
As of the NHC's 5 p.m. update,Hurricane Beryl was located 250 miles southeast of Barbados and 350 miles east-southeast of St. Vincent. Beryl is moving toward the west-southwest at 18 mph. A continued quick westward to west-northwestward motion is expected during the next few days.
On the forecast track, the center of Beryl is expected to move across the Windward Islands Monday morning and across the southeastern and central Caribbean Sea late Monday through Wednesday.
Maximum sustained winds are near 130 mph with higher gusts. Beryl is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Fluctuations in strength are likely during the next day or so, and Beryl is expected to remain an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane through landfall in the Windward Islands.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles.
A hurricane warning is now in effect for Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands, Grenada, and Tobago. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Martinique. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Dominica, Trinidad, the south coast of the Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque westward to the border with Haiti, and the south coast of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Anse d'Hainault.
AccuWeather meteorologists currently don't expect Beryl to impact Florida and the U.S., but warn residents to not let down their guard.
"Direct impacts to the United States look unlikely; however, it is very important to note that if the high pressure across the Southeast weakens, that can allow the storm to move farther north and potentially directly impact the Gulf Coast," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Forecaster Alex DaSilva said.
Named storms are rare this early in the season, especially major hurricanes with Beryl being the eighth storm that formed the Atlantic before July 4, according to AccuWeather.
"We’ve seen rapid intensification, cat 4 and 5 hurricanes before. Southern Windward Islands have been struck before. Just not this insanely early in season. Ivan in Sep 2004 took dozens of lives there. Please find strongest possible shelter by tonight," Weather Channel hurricane expert Dr. Rick Knabb posted on X.
Elsewhere, Invest 94L, a low pressure system over the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico over the southern portion of the Bay of Campeche has become better organized during the past few hours and a tropical depression could be forming. The system is moving toward west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph and is expected to approach the eastern coast of Mexico tonight and move inland on Monday morning. The NHC gives Invest 94L a 80% chance to develop into a named storm over the next 48 hours.
Regardless of development, heavy rainfall will result in areas of flooding across eastern Mexico today and into Monday.
A system in the Eastern Tropical Atlantic, Invest 96L, located several hundred miles southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands, is producing an area of showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions appear conducive for development, and a tropical depression could form by the middle of next week. The NHC gives it a 40% chance of development in the next 48 hours and a 70% chance to develop over the next week.
If either of these systems develops, the next named storm will be Chris.
Hurricane Beryl: What you need to know
- Location: About 250 miles southeast of Barbados; 350 miles east-southeast of St. Vincent
- Maximum sustained winds: 130 mph
- Movement: West-northwest at 18 mph
- Pressure: 960 mb
- Next advisory: 11 p.m.
Watches, warnings issued across Florida
For an explanation of what the watches and warnings mean, scroll to the bottom of this story.
Hurricane warning: A hurricane warning is in effect for the following:
- Barbados
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands
- Grenada
- Tobago
Tropical Storm Warning: A tropical storm warning is in effect for the following:
- Martinique
Tropical storm watch: A tropical storm watch is in effect for the following:
- Dominica
- Trinidad
- South coast of Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque westward to the border with Haiti
- South coast of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Anse d'Hainault
How strong is Hurricane Beryl and where is it going?
Spaghetti models for Hurricane Beryl
Special note about spaghetti models:Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.
Key messages from the National Hurricane Center: What you need to know about Hurricane Beryl
- Beryl is expected to remain an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane when it reaches the Windward Islands. This is a very dangerous situation and residents in these areas should listen to local government and emergency management officials for any preparedness and/or evacuation orders. All preparations should be rushed to completion today.
- Potentially catastrophic hurricane-force winds, a life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves are expected when Beryl passes over portions of the Windward Islands with the highest risk of the core in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada beginning early Monday morning. Hurricane Warnings are in effect for much of the Windward Islands.
- Heavy rainfall and localized flooding are expected across the Windward Islands through Monday.
- Beryl is expected to remain a powerful hurricane as it moves across the Caribbean Sea later this week. A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for portions of the southern coast of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Interests elsewhere in Hispaniola, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and the remainder of the northwestern Caribbean should monitor its progress.
Current forecast: Where is Hurricane Beryl going and how strong could it get?
- 12 hours: 145 mph
- 24 hours: 140 mph
- 36 hours: 125 mph
- 48 hours: 120 mph
- 60 hours: 115 mph
- 72 hours: 110 mph
- 96 hours: 100 mph
- 120 hours: 70 mph inland
What impact could Hurricane Beryl have and what areas could be affected?
- WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area beginning early Monday morning. Potentially catastrophic wind damage is expected where the eyewall of Beryl moves through portions of the Windward Islands, with the highest risk of the core in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada. Wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be even greater. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the tropical storm warning area starting late tonight, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area starting late tonight for Dominica, Trinidad, and by Tuesday afternoon for parts of the southern coast of Hispaniola.
- STORM SURGE: A life-threatening storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore flow near where the eye makes landfall in the hurricane warning area. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.
- RAINFALL: Hurricane Beryl is expected to produce rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches across Barbados and the Windward Islands through Monday. Localized maxima of 10 inches is possible, especially in the Grenadines. This rainfall may cause flash flooding in vulnerable areas.
- SURF: Large swells generated by Beryl are expected across Windward and southern Leeward Islands during the next couple of days. Swells are also expected to reach the southern coasts of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola in the next day or so. These swells are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.
Interactive map: What tropical storms, hurricanes have impacted your area in the past?
What do the watches and warnings from NHC mean?
What is storm surge? Graphics explain the deadly weather event
Hurricane warning: A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.
Hurricane watch: A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.
Tropical storm warning: A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
Tropical storm watch: An announcement that sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph arepossiblewithin the specified area within 48 hours in association with atropical,subtropical, orpost-tropicalcyclone.
Storm surge warning: A storm surge warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials.
Storm surge watch: A storm surge watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
