Tag Archives: Puerto Rico

Hurricane Erin Rapidly Intensifies to Cat. 5

Hurricane Erin rapidly intensified to Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale on Saturday morning.   At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Erin was located at latitude 19.7°N and longitude 62.8°W which put the center about 105 miles (165 km) north of Anguilla.    Erin was moving toward the west at 17 m.p.h. (28 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 160 m.p.h. (260 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 190 m.p.h. (305 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 917 mb.

Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for  St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, and Sint Maarten.

Hurricane Erin rapidly intensified to a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale on Saturday morning.  A small circular eye with a diameter of 6 miles (10 km) was at the center of Erin’s circulation.  A ring of thunderstorms surrounded the eye and the strongest winds winds occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Hurricane Erin.  Storms near the center of Erin generated strong upper level divergence that pumped large quantities of mass away from the hurricane.  The removal of large amounts of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease rapidly.

The circulation around Hurricane Erin is small.  Winds to hurricane force extend out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Erin’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out 140 miles (220 km) in the northern side of Hurricane Erin.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out 60 miles in the southern half of Erin’s circulation.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) is 35.0. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 9.2 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 44.2. Hurricane Erin is similar in intensity to Hurricane Michael in 2018.  Erin is smaller than Michael was.

Hurricane Erin will move through an environment that will be favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Erin will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Erin is likely to continue to intensify during the next few hours.  However, it is likely that the inner end of a rainband will wrap around the existing eye and eyewall.  That would create concentric eyewalls.  It would also start an eyewall replacement cycle.  An eyewall replacement cycle would cause Hurricane Erin to weaken, at least temporarily.

Hurricane Erin will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Erin toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Hurricane Storm Erin will pass north of the Puerto Rico on Saturday night.

Bands in the southern side of Hurricane Erin are likely to bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the Northern Leeward Islands and to the Virgin Islands.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.  Bands feeding into the southern side of Hurricane Erin could also drop heavy rain on Puerto Rico.

A Flood Watch is in effect for Puerto Rico.

Hurricane Erin Rapidly Intensifies to Cat. 4

Hurricane Erin rapidly intensified to Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale on Saturday morning.  At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday the center of Hurricane Erin was located at latitude 19.6°N and longitude 62.0°W which put the center about 120 miles (195 km) northeast of Anguilla.   Erin was moving toward the west-northwest at 20 m.p.h. (32 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 145 m.p.h. (235 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 175 m.p.h. (280 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 935 mb.

Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for  St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, and Sint Maarten.

Hurricane Erin rapidly intensified to a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale early on Saturday morning.  A circular eye with a diameter of 12 miles (19 km) was at the center of Erin’s circulation.  A ring of thunderstorms surrounded the eye and the strongest winds winds occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Hurricane Erin.  Storms near the center of Erin generated strong upper level divergence that pumped large quantities of mass away from the hurricane.  The removal of large amounts of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease rapidly.

The circulation around Hurricane Erin is small.  Winds to hurricane force extend out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Erin’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out 130 miles (210 km) in the northern side of Hurricane Erin.  Winds to tropical storm force extend out 60 miles in the southern half of Erin’s circulation.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) is 29.9.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) is 8.4 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) is 38.3.  Hurricane Erin is similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Charley in 2004.

Hurricane Erin will move through an environment that will be very favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Erin will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Erin will intensity during the next 24 hours.  Erin could strengthen to Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.

Hurricane Erin will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Erin toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Hurricane Storm Erin will pass north of the Puerto Rico on Sunday.

Bands in the southern side of Hurricane Erin are likely to bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the Northern Leeward Islands.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.  Bands feeding into the southern side of Hurricane Erin could also drop heavy rain on Puerto Rico.

A Flood Watch is in effect for Puerto Rico.

Erin Strengthens to a Hurricane

Former Tropical Storm Erin strengthened to a hurricane east of the Northern Leeward Islands on Friday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Hurricane Erin was located at latitude 18.2°N and longitude 56.1°W which put the center about 460 miles (740 km) east of the Northern Leeward Islands.  Erin was moving toward the west-northwest at 18 m.p.h. (30 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 996 mb.

Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for Anguilla, Barbuda, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten.

Former Tropical Storm Erin strengthened to a hurricane east of the Northern Leeward Islands on Friday.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Erin’s circulation.  A small eye with a diameter of 12 miles (19 km) formed at the center of Hurricane Erin.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Erin’s circulation.  Storms near the center generated upper level divergence that was pumping mass away from the hurricane.

The strongest winds were occurring in the northeastern part of Hurricane Erin.  Winds to hurricane force extended out 25 miles (40 km) in the northeastern quadrant of Erin’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 115 miles (185 km) from the center of Hurricane Erin.

Hurricane Erin will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Erin will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C.  It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the eastern Atlantic Ocean.  The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Erin’s circulation. The winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere will also blow from the east, but winds will be stronger in the upper troposphere.  So, there will be some vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear will slightly inhibit intensification, but the shear will not be enough to prevent intensification. Hurricane Erin will intensity during the next 24 hours.  Erin is likely to strengthen to a major hurricane during the weekend.

Hurricane Erin will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Erin toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Hurricane Storm Erin will pass north of the Northern Leeward Islands on Saturday.

Bands in the southern side of Hurricane Erin are likely to bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the Northern Leeward Islands.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.  Bands feeding into the southern side of Hurricane Erin could also drop heavy rain on Puerto Rico.

A Flood Watch is in effect for Puerto Rico.

Ernesto Strengthens to a Hurricane Northwest of Puerto Rico

Former Tropical Storm Ernesto strengthened to a hurricane northwest of Puerto Rico on Wednesday morning.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Ernesto was located at latitude 20.5°N and longitude 70.6°W which put the center about 175 miles (285 km) northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Ernesto was moving toward the northwest at 16 m.p.h. (26 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 991 mb.

Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Culebra and Vieques.

A U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft found that formed Tropical Storm Ernesto had strengthened to a hurricane northwest of Puerto Rico on Wednesday morning.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Ernesto’s circulation.  An eye appeared to be forming at the center of Hurricane Ernesto.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Ernesto.  Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane.

Winds to hurricane force extended out 30 miles (50 km) in the northeastern quadrant of Hurricane Ernesto.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 230 miles (370 km) from the center of Ernesto’s circulation.

Hurricane Ernesto will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Ernesto will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level  winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Ernesto will intensify during the next 24 hours.

Hurricane Ernesto will move around the western side of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Ernesto toward the north-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Hurricane Ernesto will move away from Puerto Rico.  Ernesto could approach Bermuda on Friday night.

Tropical Storm Ernesto Brings Wind and Rain to the Leeward Islands

Tropical Storm Ernesto brought wind and rain to the Leeward Islands on Tuesday morning.  At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Tropical Storm Ernesto was located at latitude 16.6°N and longitude 61.9°W which put the center about 35 miles (55 km) northwest of Guadeloupe.  Ernesto was moving toward the west at 18 m.p.h. (30 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1005 mb.

Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for Guadeloupe, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, St, Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Saba, St. Eustatius, Sint Maarten, the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques.

More thunderstorms formed near the center of Tropical Storm Ernesto on Tuesday morning.  Those thunderstorms generated more upper level divergence that removed mass from the tropical storm.  The removal of more mass cause the surface pressure to decrease.  More thunderstorms also developed in bands revolving around the center of Ernesto’s circulation

The strongest winds were occurring in the northern side of Tropical Storm Ernesto.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) in the northern side of Ernesto’s circulation.  The winds in the southern part of Ernesto were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Ernesto will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Ernesto will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the subtropical Atlantic Ocean.  The ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Ernesto’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the wind shear will not be enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Storm Ernesto will intensify during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Ernesto will move around the southern side of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer the tropical wave quickly toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Ernesto will reach Puerto Rico on Tuesday night.

Tropical Storm Ernesto will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the Leeward Islands, the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.  The winds could be strong enough to cause localized outages of electricity.  Ernesto could also cause a storm surge of up to 4 feet (1 meter).

 

 

Tropical Storm Ernesto Forms East of the Leeward Islands

Tropical Storm Ernesto formed east of the Leeward Islands on Monday afternoon.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Ernesto was located at latitude 16.0°N and longitude 57.5°W which put the center about 295 miles (475 km) east-southeast of Antigua.  Ernesto was moving toward the west-northwest at 28 m.p.h. (44 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 1009 mb.

Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for Guadeloupe, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, St, Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Saba, St. Eustatius, Sint Maarten, the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques.

A U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircraft found a distinct low level center of circulation in a tropical wave previously designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone Five, and the U.S. National Hurricane Center designated the system as Tropical Storm Ernesto.

More thunderstorms formed near the center of Tropical Storm Ernesto.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms began to revolve around the center of Ernesto’s circulation.  Storms near the center of Ernesto started to generate upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm.

The reconnaissance plane also found that tropical storm force winds extended out 60 miles (95 km) in the northeastern quadrant of Tropical Storm Ernesto.  The winds in the other parts of Ernesto’s circulation were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

Tropical Storm Ernesto will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Ernesto will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the subtropical Atlantic Ocean.  The ridge will produce strong easterly winds that will blow toward the top of the tropical wave.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the shear is not enough to stop intensification. Tropical Storm Ernesto is likely to intensify gradually during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Storm Ernesto will move around the southern side of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer the tropical wave quickly toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, ‘Tropical Storm Ernesto could reach the Leeward Islands early on Tuesday.  Ernesto could be near Puerto Rico on Tuesday night.

Tropical Storm Ernesto will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the Leeward Islands, the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.  The winds could be strong enough to cause localized outages of electricity.  Ernesto could also cause a storm surge of up to 4 feet (1 meter).

 

Tropical Storm Warnings Issued for Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

The potential risk posed by a tropical wave currently designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone Five prompted the issuance of Tropical Storm Warnings for the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico on Monday morning.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Monday the center of Potential Tropical Cyclone Five was located at latitude 15.1°N and longitude 55.6°W which put the center about 435 miles (700 km) east-southeast of Antigua.  The tropical wave was moving toward the west at 26 m.p.h. (43 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1010 mb.

Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for Guadeloupe, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, St, Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Saba, St. Eustatius, Sint Maarten, the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Culebra, Vieques.

A tropical wave east of the Lesser Antilles that is currently designated as Potential Tropical Cyclone Five exhibited more organization on Monday morning.  However, a NOAA aircraft investigating the tropical wave did not find a well defined low level center of circulation.  More thunderstorms formed near the axis of the tropical wave.  A large counterclockwise rotation associated with the tropical wave strengthened a little on Monday morning.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms appeared to be forming in parts of the tropical wave.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Five will move through an environment somewhat favorable for the formation of a tropical cyclone during the next 24 hours.  The tropical wave will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the subtropical Atlantic Ocean.  The ridge will produce strong easterly winds that will blow toward the top of the tropical wave.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The wind shear will slow the organization of the tropical wave into a tropical cyclone.  Potential Tropical Cyclone Five is likely to organize gradually into a tropical depression or a tropical storm during the next 24 hours.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Five will move around the southern side of a subtropical high pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer the tropical wave quickly toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Potential Tropical Cyclone Five could approach the Leeward Islands on Monday night.  It could be near Puerto Rico on Tuesday night.

Potential Tropical Cyclone Five could be a tropical storm when it reaches the Leeward Islands.  It will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the Leeward Islands, the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.  The winds could be strong enough to cause localized outages of electricity.

 

Powerful Hurricane Beryl Moves Toward Jamaica

Powerful Hurricane Beryl moved over the Caribbean Sea toward Jamaica on Tuesday morning.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Hurricane Beryl was located at latitude 15.3°N and longitude 68.9°W which put the center about 555 miles (895 km) east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.   Beryl was moving toward the west-northwest at 22 m.p.h. (35 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 160 m.p.h. (260 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 190 m.p.h. (305 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 938 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for Jamaica.

Hurricane Watches were in effect for Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.  A Hurricane Watch was also in effect for the South coast of Haiti from Anse d’Hainault to the border with the Dominican Republic.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the south coast of the Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque to the border with Haiti.  A Tropical Storm Warning was also in effect for the south coast of Haiti from Anse d’Hainault to the border with the Dominican Republic.

U.S. Air Force Reserve and NOAA aircraft determined that Hurricane Beryl was still a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale on Tuesday morning.  A circular eye with a diameter of 12 miles (19 km) was present at the center of Beryl’s circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Beryl.  Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane in all directions.  The removal of large amounts of mass was nearly equal to the inflow of mass in the lower levels of the atmosphere.  The equilibrium between upper level divergence and lower level convergence caused the surface pressure to remain nearly steady.

The size of the circulation around Hurricane Beryl increased on Tuesday morning.  Winds to hurricane force extended out 40 miles (65 km) from the center of Beryl’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 170 miles (280 km) from the center of Hurricane Beryl.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Beryl was 35.0.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 13.7 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 48.7.  Hurricane Beryl was similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Michael when Michael hit Northwest Florida in 2018.

Hurricane Beryl will move through an environment that will become less favorable for a powerful hurricane during the next 24 hours.  Beryl will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move closer to an upper level trough over Northwestern Caribbean Sea.  The upper level trough will produce southwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Beryl’s circulation.  Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase.  Hurricane Beryl will start to weaken when the wind shear increases.

Hurricane Beryl will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the western Atlantic Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Beryl toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Hurricane Beryl will move toward Jamaica.  The core of Beryl’s could reach Jamaica by late Wednesday morning.

Hurricane Beryl is likely to be a major hurricane when it reaches Jamaica.  Beryl will be capable of causing regional major damage.  Widespread electricity outages are likely.  Hurricane Beryl will also drop heavy rain on Jamaica.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods.  Beryl could cause a storm surge of up to 13 feet (4 meters) where the wind blows the water toward the coast.

The circulation around the northern side of Hurricane Beryl will cause the water level to rise along the south coasts of Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti.  There are already reports of a storm surge along the south coast of Puerto Rico.

Hurricane Beryl Intensifies to Cat. 5

Hurricane Beryl intensified to Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale over the eastern Caribbean Sea on Monday evening.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Beryl was located at latitude 13.8°N and longitude 64.9°W which put the center about 840 miles (1355 km) east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.  Beryl was moving toward the west-northwest at 22 m.p.h. (35 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 160 m.p.h. (260 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 190 m.p.h. (305 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 938 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for Jamaica.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the south coast of the Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque to the border with Haiti.  A Tropical Storm Warning was also in effect for the south coast of Haiti from Anse d’Hainault to the border with the Dominican Republic.

A NOAA research aircraft determined on Monday evening that Hurricane Beryl had intensified to a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.  A circular eye with a diameter of 17 miles (28 km) was present at the center of Beryl’s circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Beryl.  Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane in all directions.  The removal of large amounts of mass caused the surface pressure to continue to decrease.

The size of the circulation around Hurricane Beryl remained relatively constant during Monday evening.  Winds to hurricane force extended out 40 miles (65 km) from the center of Beryl’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 125 miles (200 km) from the center of Hurricane Beryl.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Beryl was 35.0.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 12.6 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 47.6.  Hurricane Beryl was similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Michael when Michael hit Northwest Florida in 2018.

The eye of Hurricane Beryl moved over Carriacou Island earlier on Monday.  There were reports of significant damage on that island.  The core of Beryl’s circulation passed just to the north of Grenada.  A weather station at Maurice Bishop International airport in Grenada (TGPY) reported a sustained wind speed of 92 m.p.h. (148 km/h) and a wind gust of 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h).

Hurricane Beryl will move through an environment favorable for a powerful hurricane during the next 24 hours.  Beryl will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the tropical Atlantic Ocean and eastern Caribbean Sea.  The ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Beryl’s circulation.  The winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere are also blowing from the east and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Beryl could intensify during the next 24 hours unless another Eyewall Replacement Cycle occurs.  The vertical wind shear is forecast to increase on Wednesday and Beryl is likely to weaken when the wind shear increases.

Hurricane Beryl will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over the western Atlantic Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Beryl toward the west-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Hurricane Beryl will move toward Jamaica.  Beryl could reach Jamaica on Wednesday.  Hurricane Beryl will pass south of Puerto Rico on Tuesday morning.  Beryl will move south of Hispaniola later on Tuesday.

 

 

Hurricane Beryl Batters the Grenadine Islands

Hurricane Beryl battered the Grenadine Islands on Monday.  At 12:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Hurricane Beryl was located at latitude 12.5°N and longitude 61.5°W which put the center about 15 miles (25 km) west of Carriacou Island.  Beryl was moving toward the west-northwest at 20 m.p.h. (32 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 150 m.p.h. (240 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 180 m.p.h. (290 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 950 mb.

Hurricane Warnings were in effect for Barbados, Grenada, Tobago, and St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands.

A Hurricane Watch was is in effect for Jamaica.

Tropical Storm Warnings were in effect for St. Lucia, Martinique and Trinidad.

A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the south coast of the Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque to the border with Haiti.  A Tropical Storm Watch was also in effect for the south coast of Haiti from Anse d’Hainault to the border with the Dominican Republic.

Hurricane Beryl intensified rapidly after it completed an Eyewall Replacement Cycle early on Monday.  A circular eye with a diameter of 23 miles (37 km) was present at the center of Beryl’s circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Beryl.  Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane in all directions.  The removal of large amounts of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease rapidly.

Completion of the Eyewall Replacement Cycle caused the size of the circulation around Hurricane Beryl to increase.  Winds to hurricane force extended out 40 miles (65 km) from the center of Beryl’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 125 miles (200 km) from the center of Hurricane Beryl.

The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Beryl was 31.6.  The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 12.5 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 44.1.  Hurricane Beryl was similar in intensity and just a little smaller than Hurricane Ida was when Ida hit Louisiana in 2021.

Hurricane 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 29°C.  It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge over the tropical Atlantic Ocean and eastern Caribbean Sea.  The ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Beryl’s circulation.  The winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere are also blowing from the east and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Hurricane Beryl is likely to intensify during the next 24 hours unless another Eyewall Replacement Cycle occurs.  There is a chance that Hurricane Beryl could strengthen to a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.

Hurricane 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-northwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Hurricane Beryl will move away from the Windward Islands during the next few hours.  Beryl will pass south of Puerto Rico on Tuesday.

The core of Hurricane Beryl is passing over the Grenadine Islands.  Beryl is capable of causing regional severe damage.  Widespread outages of electricity are likely.  Hurricane Beryl will also drop heavy rain.  Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations.  Hurricane Beryl could cause a storm surge of up to 13 feet (4 meters) on the parts of islands where the wind blows the water toward the shore.

Hurricane Beryl will also bring strong winds and heavy rain in Grenada, St. Vincent, and St. Lucia, Tobago, and Martinique. Gusty winds and heavy rain could occur in Tobago and Martinique.  The wind speeds should diminish in Barbados and Trinidad as Hurricane Beryl moves farther away..