NORFOLK, Va. —
Hurricane Beryl
Hurricane Beryl continues to trek through the Caribbean Sea and is now only about 150 miles from Jamaica. Beryl has weakened only slight, and has maintained its category 4 strength, with max sustained winds at about 145 mph and gusting to 175 mph.
Heading into the afternoon, it's looking like Jamaica will be impacted greatly as it will be on the hurricanes 'dirty side,' meaning, increased risk for extreme storm surge, damaging winds and flooding.
The forecast track calls for Beryl to continue on a west-northwest path for the next several days. An increase in mid-level westerly shear is forecast by midweek, and this should cause some weakening while Beryl moves across the central and northwestern Caribbean Sea. However, Beryl is still forecast to remain a hurricane as it approaches the Yucatan Peninsula.
Models take Beryl back into the Gulf of Mexico where it's forecasted to strengthen back into a category 1 hurricane with winds up to 75 mph. There is a high-pressure system over the southeast which is helping steer Beryl towards the south. But, over the next couple of days, this high-pressure system will move further east, allowing for a more northerly track. It's looking like Beryl could wither make landfall in Mexico in the same area as Alberto, or it could make landfall in southern Texas.
Invest 96-L
Meanwhile, Invest 96-L is showing signs of weakening. Shower and thunderstorm activity remains limited in association with Invest 96-L, located several hundred miles east-southeast of the Windward Islands. Environmental conditions are only marginally conducive for any development of this system while it moves generally westward at 15 to 20 mph across the western tropical Atlantic and eastern Caribbean Sea. Regardless of development, gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall are possible across portions of the Lesser Antilles on Wednesday.
We are keeping close tabs on all the developments in the tropics, so continue to check back with us on 13News Now for updates.