Former Tropical Depression Two strengthened to Tropical Storm Beryl on Friday evening.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Beryl was located at latitude 9.3°N and longitude 43.6°W which put the center about 1110 miles (1785 km) east-southeast of Barbados. Beryl was moving toward the west at 18 m.p.h. (30 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1006 mb.

Former Tropical Depression Two strengthened on Friday evening and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Beryl.  Thunderstorms just to the west of the center of Tropical Storm Beryl rose higher into the atmosphere.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Beryl’s circulation.  Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to start to decrease.

Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) in the northern half of Tropical Storm Beryl.  The winds in the southern half of Beryl’s circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Beryl will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Beryl will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  It will move under the axis of an upper level ridge over the central tropical Atlantic Ocean.  The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Storm Beryl will continue to intensify during the next 24 hours.  Beryl could strengthen to a hurricane during the weekend.

Tropical Storm Beryl will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Beryl toward the west during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Beryl will move toward the Lesser Antilles.

Tropical Storm Beryl could be a hurricane by the time it reaches the Lesser Antilles.  Tropical Storm and Hurricane Watches are likely to be issued for the Windward Islands on Saturday.