Tropical storm Beryl has rapidly intensified into a dangerous Category 3 hurricane on Sunday, posing a significant threat to the Caribbean region. The National Hurricane Center reported that the hurricane is currently located approximately 420 miles east-southeast of Barbados, with sustained winds of 115 mph and moving west at 21 mph. Forecasters predict that Beryl will strengthen further and could become an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane before reaching the Windward Islands.
Hurricane warnings have been issued for several islands, including Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and the Grenadine Islands, as well as Grenada and Tobago. A tropical storm warning is also in effect for Martinique, with a tropical storm watch for Dominica. The storm is expected to move quickly westward over the next few days, crossing the Windward Islands on Monday and then passing through the southeastern Caribbean Sea on Monday night and Tuesday.
Meteorologists anticipate that the intensity of Beryl will continue to grow, reaching sustained winds of 130 mph and gusts up to 160 mph, potentially causing devastating wind damage to the region. The storm surge could reach up to 6 to 9 feet above normal levels, accompanied by large and destructive waves. Additionally, heavy rainfall of 3 to 6 inches is expected to fall over Barbados and the Windward Islands by Monday, raising concerns about flash flooding.
As Hurricane Beryl progresses, it is projected to remain south of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola, moving closer to Jamaica as a major hurricane by Wednesday before heading west towards the Yucatan Peninsula as a Category 2 hurricane by Friday. Forecasts suggest that increasing shear in the Caribbean will likely cause the hurricane to plateau in intensity and weaken by midweek.
In addition to tracking Hurricane Beryl, the National Hurricane Center is monitoring two other systems with the potential to develop into tropical depressions or storms. One area of low pressure east of Beryl, located southwest of the Cape Verde Islands, is expected to strengthen into a tropical depression by the middle of the week. The other system in the southwest Gulf of Mexico, with disorganized showers and thunderstorms, may form a tropical depression before moving inland over Mexico on Monday.
Looking ahead in the hurricane season, the next two names on the list for 2024 are Chris and Debby. This season was kicked off by Tropical Storm Alberto on June 19, marking a slow start that is expected to ramp up in the peak months from August to October. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an above-average year in the Atlantic, forecasting between 17 to 25 named storms, of which eight to 13 are anticipated to become hurricanes, with four to seven intensifying into major hurricanes.