The risk posed by Tropical Storm Beryl prompted the issuance of a Hurricane Watch for Barbados on Saturday.  At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Tropical Storm Beryl was located at latitude 9.8°N and longitude 46.8°W which put the center about 890 miles (1435 km) east-southeast of Barbados.  Beryl was moving toward the west at 21 m.p.h. (33 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 999 mb.

A Hurricane Watch was in effect for Barbados.

Tropical Storm Beryl strengthened rapidly during Friday night as it moved closer to the Lesser Antilles.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Beryl’s circulation.  Other bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around around the center of Tropical Storm Beryl.  Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.  The removal of more mass cause the surface pressure to decrease more rapidly.

Winds to tropical storm force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of of Tropical Storm Beryl.

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 will strengthen to a hurricane.  Tropical Storm Beryl could continue to intensify rapidly.  Beryl could intensify to a major hurricane before it reaches the Lesser Antilles.

Tropical Storm Beryl will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean. T he high pressure system will steer Beryl toward the west during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Beryl will move quickly toward the Lesser Antilles.  Beryl could approach Barbados on Sunday night.

Tropical Storm Beryl will be a hurricane by the time it reaches the Lesser Antilles.  Additional Tropical Storm and Hurricane Watches are likely to be issued for the Windward Islands on Saturday.  Beryl could cause major damage on some of the Windward Islands.