Hurricane Beryl tracker shows powerful storm may head toward U.S.

Hurricane Beryl evolved into a Category 5 storm Monday night, exhibiting damaging winds of 165 mph. While the first Atlantic hurricane of the season has its sights set on Jamaica, the latest forecasts show a path for the U.S.

Beryl barreled through the Windward Islands on Monday, leaving behind a trail of destruction, as reported by AccuWeather.

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands look to be spared from the weather’s wrath, but the destinations could feel an impact in the form of squalls, downpours, and rough seas, noted AccuWeather. Continuing on a westward trajectory, Beryl will also affect southern areas of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

On Wednesday, AccuWeather says “Jamaica is likely to experience a high risk to lives and property.” Flooding rain and powerful winds are anticipated to persist for several hours.

THE PATH OF HURRICANE BERYL

As the storm moves away from Jamaica it will proceed on a northwest trajectory toward Mexico. However, the deterrent of high pressure in the U.S. may falter and that could very well open the door for Beryl in the Gulf of Mexico.

“If the high pressure area was to remain strong, Beryl would make landfall in Belize or Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday night or Friday and then remain mostly over land for its duration,” AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. “But if the high weakens just a bit, and we are seeing signs of that trend now, it may allow Beryl to take a more north-northwesterly track, in which case it may avoid more land and get into the Gulf of Mexico as a formidable hurricane instead of a chopped-down tropical storm that encounters more land.”

AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter reports that the Atlantic coast and Florida will remain free from any direct impacts from this hurricane. However, he warns that there is a potential for direct impacts in areas from Corpus Christi to Brownsville, Texas.

While the risk exists for southern Texas, AccuWeather notes that Beryl will not roll in with the same power. However, there still remains a potential threat for heavy rain and gusty winds this weekend.

The AccuWeather tracker shows Beryl passing over the Yucatán Peninsula on Friday before ending up in northern Mexico and southern Texas Monday night.

A graphic by the National Weather Service (NWS) shows the path of the storm just south of the southern tip of Texas by Sunday morning.

A CHANGE IN INTENSITY

Various factors will come into play in determining the ultimate intensity of Hurricane Beryl going forward.

Warmer-than-average waters and breezes in the path of the hurricane will affect the strength of the storm. When the breezes, otherwise known as wind shear, are strengthened, they can take a toll on the wind intensity of a system, according to AccuWeather.

Even if the intensity is taken down a notch by the time the storm potentially reaches Texas, it can still deliver concerning weather effects.

“Beryl is the strongest hurricane on record to hit portions of the Windward Islands so early in the season and the earliest 165-mph Category 5 hurricane on record for the Atlantic basin,” AccuWeather reported.

THUNDER IN THE DAYS AHEAD

Although free from hurricane force winds, New York City is slated to see some thunderstorms in the days ahead.

On the Fourth of July, residents can expect storms throughout the afternoon and into the evening hours.

“On Thursday it could be a soaker if it gets humid again,” explained AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Benz. “It’s too early to say how much rain we could see specifically but there could be some downpours later Thursday and certainly as we head into Friday and Saturday.”

Thunderstorms will grow more active into the weekend, the forecaster predicted. If there is both heat and humidity, there is the chance for these thunderstorms to come along with gusty winds.