Tropical Storm Beryl, currently anticipated to intensify into a 'major hurricane,' is on track towards the Caribbean.

 Tropical Storm Beryl continued to intensify Saturday morning as it approached the Windward Islands, where it is anticipated to make landfall as a "major hurricane" on Sunday and Monday. According to the National Hurricane Center's latest update at 11 a.m. Saturday, Beryl's sustained winds have reached 65 mph, an increase of 5 mph from the 8 a.m. advisory, accompanied by stronger gusts. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center of Beryl.

The hurricane center stated, "Rapid strengthening is now expected, and Beryl is forecast to become a major hurricane before reaching the Windward Islands." As of the latest report, the storm is located approximately 820 miles east-southeast of Barbados and is moving swiftly westward at 23 mph.

"The hurricane center anticipates a swift westward to west-northwestward movement over the next few days," stated the advisory. "Based on the projected path, the system is forecasted to pass through the Windward Islands by late Sunday night into Monday."

Current alerts include a hurricane watch for Barbados, St. Lucia, and the Grenadine Islands, while a tropical storm watch is in effect for Martinique and Tobago. Residents in the rest of the Lesser Antilles are advised to monitor Beryl closely. Additional watches and warnings are likely to be issued for parts of this region later today.

Hazards include a potential "life-threatening storm surge" of 5 to 7 feet in the hurricane watch areas. Barbados and the Windward Islands may experience 3 to 6 inches of rainfall on Sunday and Monday, leading to possible flooding. Dangerous surf and rip currents are expected, making water activities risky in the Windward and southern Leeward Islands.

The next advisories are scheduled for 2 p.m. with an intermediate update, followed by a comprehensive advisory at 5 p.m.

In the event that Beryl becomes a hurricane on Sunday, it would mark the furthest east formation of a June hurricane in recorded history. The only other nearby June hurricane was recorded in 1933....Read more