Tropical Storm Beryl continued to grow stronger on Saturday night after becoming a hurricane earlier in the day and is forecast to become a dangerous major hurricane by Monday, the National Hurricane Center said.
The first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Beryl is about 595 miles east-southeast of Barbados, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph, the center said in an 11 p.m. update.
It’s forecast to intensify quickly as it continues moving rapidly west at 20 mph, the center said. Reconnaissance aircraft will begin flying routine monitoring flights early on Sunday morning to gather more information about the storm’s winds, position and surrounding conditions.
Hurricane warnings – meaning hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours – are in effect for Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands. Tropical storm warnings have been issued for Martinique and Tobago, the center said.
Beryl is forecast to be a major hurricane when its center moves across the Windward Islands late Sunday night and Monday. By Monday morning, its peak winds are now expected to reach 125 mph, with higher gusts.
Beryl will bring the risk of hurricane-force winds, dangerous storm surge and waves and heavy rainfall with totals of 3 to 6 inches across Barbados and the Windward Islands Sunday night into Monday. Rainfall may lead to flooding in vulnerable areas, the center said.