Hurricane Beryl continues to maintain its strength as an intense Category 4 hurricane, with sustained winds of 155 miles per hour, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. The storm is currently just below the threshold for a Category 5 hurricane, with no decrease in wind speed reported since the last update.
A hurricane hunter aircraft is scheduled to provide updated measurements from the eye of the storm around 8 p.m. ET, which will offer a more accurate assessment of Beryl's current intensity.
While the storm is expected to gradually weaken as it moves through the Caribbean Sea, it is still forecasted to reach Jamaica at or near major hurricane intensity, potentially as a Category 3 storm. The National Hurricane Center has issued warnings for devastating hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on Wednesday and Wednesday night.
In addition to the strong winds, extremely heavy rainfall poses a significant threat to Jamaica, with rainfall totals expected to range from 4 to 8 inches and isolated areas possibly receiving up to 12 inches of rain through late Wednesday.
Following its impact on Jamaica, Beryl is projected to weaken further on Wednesday night through Thursday but could still make landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula as a Category 1 hurricane early Friday morning. The storm is then anticipated to enter the Gulf of Mexico as a tropical storm.
Despite the forecasted path, there remains uncertainty in both the track and intensity of Beryl over the western Gulf of Mexico this weekend. The National Hurricane Center advises interests in the southwestern and western Gulf of Mexico to closely monitor the progress of the storm.
