Hurricane Beryl became a hurricane on Saturday, the first of the 2024 Atlantic season, according to for discussions from the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
“Beryl continues to strengthen rapidly and has now become a hurricane,” the NHC said in a Saturday night discussion about the first Atlantic hurricane of the season. “Satellite images show an expanding dense, cloudy central feature, and recent microwave images indicate that a partial eyewall has formed.”
Here’s what you need to know about Hurricane Beryl.
Where is Hurricane Beryl heading?
According to an NHC discussion Saturday night, Beryl is heading toward the Windward Islands, a group of Caribbean islands that includes Saint Lucia, Grenada and Carriacou.
“Beryl is expected to be a dangerous major hurricane when it hits the Windward Islands on Sunday night or Monday, bringing destructive hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surge,” the NHC said in the discussion. “Hurricane watch and warnings are in effect for much of the Windward Islands.”
According to a public advisory per the NHC on Saturday night, there are hurricane watches and warnings in effect for islands such as Barbados, St. Lucia and Grenada. The statement also stated that the storm is about 720 miles east-southeast of Barbados.
How strong is Hurricane Beryl?
The NHC said in a public statement Saturday night that the storm had maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour.
“Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area beginning Sunday night,” the NHC said in the release. “Hurricane conditions are possible in hurricane watching areas Sunday night or Monday morning. Devastating wind damage is expected where Beryl’s eyewall moves through parts of the Windward Islands.”
The advisory also noted that “[a] Life-threatening storm surges will raise water levels by up to 5 to 7 feet above normal tide levels in landflow areas near where Beryl makes landfall in hurricane warning and watch areas.
“Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large, destructive waves,” the statement continued.
When it comes to rainfall, the NHC said in the statement that the storm “is expected to produce rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches across Barbados and the Windward Islands from Sunday night through Monday.
“These rains could cause flooding in vulnerable areas,” continued the NHC.
Hurricane Beryl Track Map
You can see Hurricane Beryl’s path on this interactive map on the National Hurricane Center website.
Follow the path of the storm here.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
