Beryl remains extremely powerful, devastating effects possible in Jamaica on Wednesday

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – Beryl has weakened somewhat but remains a strong Category 4 hurricane. Devastating impacts are likely in Jamaica, where Beryl could make landfall on Wednesday.

As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the center of Hurricane Beryl was located near 15.9 degrees north and 70.8 degrees west. Beryl is moving toward the west-northwest at about 22 mph and this general motion should continue through Wednesday, followed by a turn more to the west Wednesday night or Thursday. On the forecast track, Beryl’s center will move quickly across the central Caribbean tonight and is expected to pass near or over Jamaica on Wednesday. The center is expected to pass near or over the Cayman Islands Wednesday night or early Thursday and approach the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico on Thursday night.

Maximum sustained winds will be around 155 mph (250 km/h) with stronger gusts. Beryl is a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Weakening is expected over the next one to two days. However, Beryl is expected to reach or be close to major hurricane strength as it passes Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Wednesday night. Further weakening is expected after that, although Beryl is expected to remain a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean.

Hurricane-force winds reach up to 64 kilometers outward from the center, while tropical storm-force winds reach up to 300 kilometers.

Hurricane levels will reach the coast of Jamaica on Wednesday. Winds are expected to reach tropical storm strength for the first time early Wednesday. The Cayman Islands are expected to be reached Wednesday evening or early Thursday.

In offshore wind areas along the coast of Jamaica, a storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 1.5 to 2.4 metres above normal tide levels. In offshore wind areas along the coast of the Cayman Islands, a storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 60 to 120 centimetres above normal tide levels.

Hurricane Beryl is expected to bring rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches, locally up to 12 inches, across Jamaica and southwestern peninsula Haiti through Wednesday evening. Beryl is also expected to bring rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches, locally up to 10 inches, across the Barahona Peninsula in southwestern Dominican Republic. Isolated rainfall amounts of 6 inches or more are also expected across mountainous terrain in the central Dominican Republic. These rainfall amounts are likely to cause flash flooding and mudslides. Beryl is also expected to bring rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches, locally up to 6 inches, across the Cayman Islands Wednesday into Thursday.

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