Breakfast Brief: Major Hurricane Beryl slams the Lesser Antilles breaking records

After a quiet weekend over the Plains and Midwest, storm chances are returning with a vengeance to the region. Meanwhile, Major Hurricane Beryl becomes the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record in the Atlantic Ocean and is impacting the Lesser Antilles.

A high-pressure system that has brought tranquil conditions to portions of the Central U.S. will slide east overnight Sunday. This will pave the way for another round of showers and thunderstorms, some of which could be severe, particularly across the northern Plains during the day. These storms are expected to reach parts of western Minnesota and Iowa by tonight.

Almost a repeat of last week, another cold front has left dry, cool air in place, making this morning another chilly start to the workweek. Daybreak temperatures across the Great Lakes and interior Northeast will be in the 40s and low 50s, about 5 degrees cooler than average. The Central Mississippi Valley through the Ohio Valley will be the coolest, with areas reaching the low 40s and even upper 30s.

In contrast, temperatures on the West Coast are escalating through the holiday week. Many outdoor festivities and events will likely be canceled, particularly across the Desert Southwest and Central California, where temperatures are set to reach or surpass 110°F. Very extreme temperatures are possible in the San Joaquin Valley by next weekend, with temperatures potentially soaring into the 120s in isolated spots.

Major Hurricane Beryl is impacting the Windward Islands this morning and is expected to produce potentially catastrophic and life-threatening conditions. On Sunday, Beryl became the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record in the Atlantic Ocean and the only Category 4 storm ever recorded in the month of June. Beryl briefly weakened back into a Category 3 after an eyewall replacement but is now back to Category 4 strength as it barrels toward the Windward Islands.

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