Hurricane Tropical Storm Watches Posted Leeward Islands Beryl 80 MPH Winds

Hurricane Tropical Storm Watches Posted Leeward Islands

Beryl 80 MPH Winds

When you look at Hurricane Beryl it is so small that it is basically a cluster of severe thunderstorms. The hurricane itself is probably less than 60 miles across with what appeared earlier to be a pin prick eye. Hurricane Beryl continues to move to the west and it seems that it will threaten the Leewards Sunday night into Monday with tropical storm force winds though it is so small, an island would basically have to take a direct hit to feel anything. While it remains inside a favorable environment it will maintain its strength. However it is still forecast to weaken and a system this small could weaken fairly quickly once it begins to encounter stronger winds aloft. It is a close call for the Leewards so the Hurricane & Tropical Storm Watches are up.

WIDE ATLANTIC TROPICAL SATELLITE

...MINIATURE BERYL SPEEDING WESTWARD OVER THE TROPICAL ATLANTIC...


SUMMARY OF 500 PM AST...2100 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...10.6N 47.8W
ABOUT 965 MI...1555 KM ESE OF THE LESSER ANTILLES
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...80 MPH...130 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...W OR 270 DEGREES AT 15 MPH...24 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...994 MB...29.36 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The government of Barbados has issued a Hurricane Watch for
Dominica.

The government of France has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for
Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, and St. Barthelemy.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Dominica

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for...
* Martinique
* Guadeloupe
* St. Martin
* St. Barthelemy

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area.

A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are
possible within the watch area.

Interests elsewhere in the Lesser Antilles should monitor the
progress of Beryl, as additional watches could be required for other
islands tonight or early Saturday.


DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Beryl was located
near latitude 10.6 North, longitude 47.8 West.  Beryl is moving
toward the west near 15 mph (24 km/h).  A faster westward to
west-northwestward motion is expected to begin over the weekend and
continue through early next week.  On the forecast track, the
center of Beryl will approach the Lesser Antilles over the weekend
and cross the island chain late Sunday or Monday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 80 mph (130 km/h) with higher
gusts.  Some strengthening is forecast during the next couple of
days, and Beryl could still be a hurricane when it reaches the
Lesser Antilles late Sunday or Monday.  Weakening is expected once
Beryl reaches the eastern Caribbean Sea on Monday, but the system
may not degenerate into an open trough until it reaches the vicinity
of Hispaniola and the central Caribbean Sea.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 10 miles (20 km) from the
center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles
(55 km).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 994 mb (29.36 inches).


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND:  Tropical storm or hurricane conditions are possible within
the watch areas by late Sunday or Monday.

Beryl is still forecast to weaken to an open wave when it reaches the Eastern Caribbean. The small nature of this storm could lead to some volatility in either direction as far as strength is concerned.

TROPICAL DEPRESSION 3 HAS FORMED OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF THE US AND IS FORECAST TO BECOME A TROPICAL STORM OVER THE WEEKEND. WE HAVE THE LATEST ON THIS SYSTEM.