Hurricane Beryl is becoming better organized as the storm completes the final stages of an eyewall replacement and is poised to strengthen again, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Monday morning.
The major hurricane broke history over the weekend as the first Category 4 storm to ever form in June.
The U.S. Air Force Hurricane Hunters flew into Beryl Monday morning for a new assessment of the intensity and structure of the storm.
An absolutely stunning view of Hurricane Beryl's clear eye.
— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) June 30, 2024
Beryl is now powerful, category 4 storm. pic.twitter.com/FoRBR5qJhr
Now a Category 4 hurricane, Beryl's maximum winds were 130 mph at 8 a.m. CST Monday morning and is now moving west-northwest at 20 mph, according to the NHC latest weather bulletin.
"It should be noted that while Beryl's maximum winds have slightly decreased overnight, the area of stronger winds have grown, so the hazards of the hurricane are likely to affect a larger area," NHC forecaster Eric Blake said. "Beryl has a chance today to re-strengthen now that the eyewall cycle is close to completion and the vertical wind shear remains low."
Beryl barrels toward Windward Islands
Parts of the Windward Islands, which are not used to dealing with major hurricanes like Beryl, should prepare for life-threatening storm surge, hurricane force winds and heavy rain. Hurricane warnings are in effect for much of the islands.
The highest risk of effects from impact include St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada, Blake said.
A hurricane warning is in effect for:
- Barbados
- St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands
- Grenada
- Tobago
A tropical storm warning is in effect for:
- Martinique
- Trinidad
- St. Lucia
Hurricane #Beryl is crying out in anguish as the eyewall replacement cycle continues to boil vigorously. Her CDO is starting to chill again, and a larger eye is clearly trying to make an appearance. Based on how rapidly she intensified yesterday morning, Beryl seems more than… pic.twitter.com/UKs3ii3Z9w
— Backpirch Weather (@BackpirchCrew) July 1, 2024
Beryl likely to weaken in Caribbean
The hurricane will continue to move west-northwest, and eventually begin to move west later in the week due to a strengthening mid-level ridge that will be north of the storm, Blake said Monday morning.
Beryl is forecast to weaken over the central Caribbean in a few days because of an increase in westerly wind shear. Blake said guidance models are not yet in agreement on how much the shear will affect the storm's strength.
Will Beryl make it into the Gulf of Mexico?
It is too soon to tell if Beryl will make it into the Gulf of Mexico, Blake said Monday morning, but long-range guidance is now more in agreement that a stronger ridge over the Gulf of Mexico keeps Beryl "considerably South" and away from Louisiana and the U.S.
"This is a pretty big change from earlier so I don't want to bite off on that evolution just yet," Blake said, adding that the new NHC forecast did make note of the model consensus for "continuity purposes."