Hurricane Beryl, the first of the Atlantic season intensified into a “very dangerous” Category 3 storm on Sunday morning as it made its way to the Caribbean.
The National Hurricane Center says Beryl is expected to be an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 hurricane when it reaches the Windward Islands by late Sunday or early Monday.
“The center of Beryl is expected to move across the Windward Islands Monday morning and across the southeastern and central Caribbean Sea late Monday through Wednesday,” the weather center said.
“A life-threatening storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore flow near where the eye makes landfall in the hurricane warning area,” the NHC said, adding that the surge could bring large and destructive waves near the coast.
The hurricane is strengthening quickly, increasing to 55 mph in the 24 hours before Sunday morning.
The National Hurricane Center defines rapid intensification as an increase in maximum sustained wind speed of 35 mph or more in a 24-hour period.
Beryl is forecast to be a Category 4 hurricane when it passes near the Windward Islands of Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Beryl brings a risk of heavy rainfall, destructive hurricane-force winds, and dangerous storm surges and waves. It is the earliest major hurricane – defined as one that is Category 3 or higher – in the Atlantic in 58 years