Hurricane Beryl to remain dangerous storm as it moves through Caribbean

Hurricane Beryl will continue to churn west-northwestward with significant risks to lives and property coming to areas over the central and northwestern Caribbean later in the week.

AccuWeather meteorologists have deemed there will be no threats from Beryl along the Atlantic coast of the United States, but interests along the Texas portion of the Gulf Coast should monitor the situation closely.

•Beryl crossed a portion of the Windward Islands as an intense Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph Monday

•Beryl is the strongest hurricane on record to hit portions of the Windward Islands and the earliest 150-mph Category 4 hurricane on record for the Atlantic basin

•AccuWeather meteorologists warn Beryl could reach part of the United States after its trek through the Caribbean

Quick-moving Beryl was tearing across the Windward Islands Monday. The smaller islands south of St. Vincent and areas just north of Grenada bore the storm’s full Category 4 fury, with maximum sustained winds of at least 150 mph. The eye passed directly over the island of Carriacou at 11:10 AST.

“The next appreciable landmass in Beryl’s path will be Jamaica on Wednesday,” AccuWeather Lead Tropical Meteorologist Alex DaSilva said.

Factors affecting Beryl’s intensity will be much warmer-than-historical-average waters and light breezes in the path of the hurricane over the next 24 hours or so. When these breezes, known as wind shear, become strong, they can lead to the weakening of an established tropical system.

“Beginning Tuesday night through much of the balance of Beryl’s life over water, the hurricane will encounter stronger wind shear from midweek to the weekend,” AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said, “In addition, interaction with the larger landmasses of the Greater Antilles in the central and western Caribbean should begin to take the edge off Beryl’s intensity.”

Even if Beryl loses some wind intensity during the second half of the week, it will remain a dangerous hurricane with the likelihood of torrential rain, flooding, mudslides, damaging winds, pounding seas and storm surge along and near its path.

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will escape Beryl’s full wrath, but there can be fringe-effect gusty squalls, downpours and rough seas. As Beryl continues westward, it will also inch northward so that southern portions of Hispaniola can experience moderate impacts from rain, wind and seas.

Jamaica is likely to experience a high risk to lives and property Wednesday. The AccuWeather RealImpact™ Scale for Hurricanes for Jamaica is a 2. Preparations need to be completed by late Tuesday in Jamaica, as conditions will deteriorate rapidly Wednesday.

Beyond Jamaica, Beryl will continue to track slightly north of west. However, the influence of high pressure to the north over the southern U.S. may begin to waver.

“Should the high pressure area remain strong, Beryl will make landfall in Belize or Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday night or Friday,”

Photo courtesy of Bermudian Dwain Smith in Barbados,

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