Hurricane Beryl, rapidly strengthening into a major Category 3 hurricane, poses a significant threat to the Windward Islands. As it tracks westward across the central Atlantic, Beryl is expected to intensify further over unusually warm waters before reaching the Windward Islands early Monday. This could mark the strongest hurricane impact on these islands since Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
Hurricane warnings are in effect for Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands, Grenada, and Tobago, urging residents to swiftly complete preparations. Beryl's compact eyewall could bring a narrow but devastating path of wind damage, alongside life-threatening storm surge and flooding.
Beyond the Windward Islands, Beryl's path into the eastern Caribbean Sea remains uncertain. It is projected to continue west-northwest through the week, potentially posing threats to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Belize, and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. However, uncertainties in the forecast, including potential variations in wind shear, could influence its strength and trajectory in the coming days.
In addition to Beryl, the Atlantic Basin is monitoring two other disturbances. Invest 96L in the eastern Atlantic shows a high chance of development, likely approaching the Windward Islands shortly after Beryl. Meanwhile, Invest 94L near Mexico may briefly develop over the Bay of Campeche before impacting eastern Mexico on Monday.