Tropical Storm Beryl is expected to become a major hurricane as it gets closer to the Caribbean, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm will turn into a hurricane before reaching the Windward Islands, including Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Martinique. Beryl is currently about 800 miles east-southeast of Barbados with maximum sustained winds of 65 miles per hour. It is moving west at a speed of 23 miles per hour.
Here is the latest satellite photo of the strengthening tropical storm #Beryl. Beryl is expected to strengthen rapidly, likely bringing destructive hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surge to parts of the Windward Islands. Follow the latest news on… photo.twitter.com/0081bWals0
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) June 29, 2024
“Relatively rapid westward to west-northwestward motion is expected over the next several days,” the National Hurricane Center said in an update Saturday. “On the forecast track, the system is expected to move across the Windward Islands late Sunday night and late Monday.”
According to the National Hurricane Center, hurricane watches have been issued for Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada, where hurricane conditions are possible Sunday night or Monday morning. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for Martinique and Tobago, where gale conditions are likely Monday morning.
Life-threatening storm surges could raise water levels in hurricane warning areas by 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 2 meters) above normal tide levels, bringing devastating waves to shore.
A total of 3 to 6 inches of rain could fall on Barbados and the Windward Islands from Sunday through Monday. This could lead to flooding in some areas.
Additional warnings and watches are possible for the region later Saturday, the National Hurricane Center said.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
