Hurricane Beryl Batters Cayman Islands, Heads Towards Yucatan Peninsula

“That southern portion of the Texas coast is the zone we have to really watch.”
– AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter

The Story

• Hurricane Beryl slammed into Jamaica Wednesday as a Category 4 storm, with winds of 140 mph.
• It downgraded to a Category 3 early Thursday and is forecast to weaken further as it approaches the Yucatan Peninsula.
• A hurricane warning is in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, including Cozumel.
• The storm is expected to move west-northwest, bringing strong winds and dangerous storm surges.
• Beryl is predicted to emerge over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on Friday night and turn towards the northwest.
• The National Weather Service warns of a potential landfall in northeast Mexico or South Texas as a Category 1 hurricane, but advises preparation for a Category 2.
• AccuWeather forecasters highlight the risk to the Texas coast, from Brownsville to Corpus Christi, with the potential for direct impacts.
• Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued an advisory, warning residents and emergency agencies to prepare for the storm.

Links

• Hurricane Beryl tracker: Maps and Projected Path
• See spaghetti models: Hurricane Beryl Spaghetti Models
• Texas weather watches: Warnings and Active Storms

Source: National Hurricane Center, AccuWeather, USA TODAY