Tropical Storm Beryl inches closer to the Caribbean and is forecast to become a major hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The storm will become a hurricane by the time it reaches the Windward Islands, including St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Martinique. Beryl is currently located about 820 miles east-southeast of Barbados, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. It is moving west at 23 miles per hour.
“Relatively rapid west-to-west-northwest movement is expected over the next few days,” the National Hurricane Center said in an update Saturday. “On the forecast track, this system is expected to move across the Windward Islands on Sunday night and Monday.”
Hurricane watches have been issued for Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada, where hurricane conditions are possible Sunday night or Monday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Martinique and Tobago, with storm conditions expected through Monday morning.
Life-threatening storm surges can raise water levels 5 to 7 feet above normal tide levels in hurricane watch areas and bring destructive waves ashore.
A total of 3 to 6 inches of rain is expected Sunday through Monday across Barbados and the Windward Islands, causing flooding in some areas.
Additional warnings and watches are possible for the region late Saturday, the National Hurricane Center said.
