The eyewall of Hurricane Beryl is currently brushing the southern coast of Jamaica, bringing hurricane conditions to much of the island. The latest update from the National Hurricane Center indicates that Kingston, Jamaica, recently experienced a wind gust of 81 mph. Beryl remains a powerful Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds reaching 140 mph.
Despite westerly shear affecting Beryl, the central core of the hurricane has shown signs of strengthening. The eye of the storm has become more defined in Cuban radar data and is visible in satellite imagery. While the eye itself is not expected to make a direct landfall over Jamaica, the eyewall, the most intense part of the storm, is currently causing significant impact on the country.
Forecasters predict that Beryl will begin to weaken after passing by Jamaica on Wednesday evening. However, the storm is anticipated to remain potent as it progresses towards the Cayman Islands. The National Hurricane Center projects that Beryl will maintain major hurricane intensity as it approaches the Cayman Islands, with some weakening expected thereafter. Despite the anticipated weakening, Beryl is forecasted to retain hurricane status until it reaches the Yucatan Peninsula.
