MIAMI: The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Saturday that tropical storm Beryl has intensified into a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, and cautioned that it may undergo rapid strengthening as it approaches the Caribbean island of Barbados.
Hurricane Beryl, which may become “major”, is expected to bring destructive winds and a life-threatening storm surge to the Windward islands, the forecaster said in an advisory.
The centre of the hurricane is expected to move across the Windward islands late Sunday night and Monday.
Beryl formed over the central tropical Atlantic on Friday, and was located about 1,159km east-southeast of Barbados, carrying maximum sustained winds of 120kph, NHC said.
NHC issued a hurricane warning for Barbados, adding that hurricane conditions are expected beginning Sunday night. It also warned of a potential hurricane threat for much of the Windward islands, and, tropical storms may occur in Martinique, Dominica, and Tobago.
“A life-threatening storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 1.5m to 2m above normal tide levels in areas of onshore flow near where Beryl makes landfall in the hurricane warning and watch areas,” the forecaster said.
“Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves,” NHC added.
Beryl is moving west at 35kph, NHC said, and forecasts that it would produce total rainfall of 7.5 to 15cm across Barbados and the Windward islands on Sunday night and may continue into Monday.
It also may bring 2.5 to 10cm of rain over portions of southeastern Puerto Rico, which is expected to happen on Monday night into Tuesday.
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