Hurricane Beryl tracker: Map and projected storm path
Hurricane Beryl is now a Category 4, downgraded from a “potentially catastrophic” Category 5 hurricane by the National Hurricane Center — the first ever to reach that strength in the Atlantic during the month of July.
While forecasts indicate that Beryl is weakening, the hurricane is still expected to bring “devastating hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surge and damaging waves” to Jamaica on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Heavy rainfall is expected in Jamaica and southern Haiti which may cause “life threatening flash flooding and mudslides.”
As of 2 p.m. Eastern, Beryl was 45 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica, moving west-northwest at about 18 mph. The center of Beryl is expected to pass near or over Jamaica in the next several hours. It has maximum sustained winds are near 140 mph.
After passing Jamaica, Beryl will bring hurricane conditions to the Cayman Islands Wednesday night and Thursday. The hurricane will turn further west and is expected to continue weakening before reaching the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico Thursday night or Friday morning. Parts of the Yucatán Peninsula and Belize are expected to see damaging winds, dangerous storm surge and heavy rainfall starting Thursday night.
Through the weekend and into early next week the forecast remains uncertain, the National Hurricane Service said. Beryl could pose a risk to coastal Mexico and South Texas as it moves west or if it were to turn north over the gulf to coastal Texas and Louisiana.
The storm, fueled by record-warm waters, made landfall on Grenada’s Carriacou Island on Monday as an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 hurricane before it strengthened to a Category 5 later that night. The rate at which Beryl strengthen and its intensity is extremely unusual for this time of year.
On Tuesday, Grenada and the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines were reeling from a storm that probably will be the region’s most intense hurricane on record.
Hurricane season historically peaks around mid-September, and this season could be the worst in decades, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says. Government meteorologists predict 17 to 25 tropical storms this year, including four to seven that could become major hurricanes.
correction
A previous version of this article incorrectly said that Hurricane Beryl was close to Granada. It was actually close to the island country of Grenada. The article has been corrected.
