Tropical Storm Beryl Expected to Become Major Hurricane by Monday

Tropical Storm Beryl is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Saturday night or Sunday morning, and a major hurricane by Monday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned in its latest advisory.

• Location: 820 miles east-southeast of Barbados
• Maximum sustained winds: 65 mph
• Movement: Moving west at 23 mph

Hurricane Watches are in effect for Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines. Tropical Storm Watches issued for Martinique and Tobago.

"Abnormally favorable conditions"

NHC says the conditions in the atmosphere and ocean are "abnormally favorable" for strengthening. Beryl is expected to rapidly intensify, with winds reaching major hurricane strength of 111+ mph before hitting the Windward islands on Monday.

“A dangerous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels...Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves,” wrote hurricane specialist John Cangialosi.

Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from Beryl's center. More Hurricane and Tropical Storm Watches, and possibly warnings, are likely for the Windward and southern Leeward Islands.

The NHC advises those in the central and western Caribbean to monitor the system, noting forecast uncertainty. Invest 95L spaghetti models illustrate a range of forecast tools and the NHC uses the top-performing models for its forecasts.

The NHC is also monitoring two other tropical waves in the Atlantic, one in the Caribbean with a 40% chance of development, and one in the Atlantic with a 60% chance.

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