Major Hurricane Beryl - Category 5 racing over the Caribbean

Major Hurricane Beryl continues to break records. It briefly reached category 5 status in the Caribbean, making it the earliest category 5 hurricane to form in Atlantic Basin history.

On Tuesday morning, Beryl holds maximum sustained winds of 165 mph and moves west-northwest at 22 mph racing toward Jamaica where the hurricane is expected to come on or very close to on Wednesday late morning.

It will continue to be a major hurricane, likely a strong category 3 with 120 mph and bringing major storm surge to the island. Storm surge also remains a big threat to the southern coast of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico.

Tuesday will be a day at sea for Beryl, traveling over very warm waters currently running between 1 and 2.5C above normal. These are mid-September’s water temperatures.. but in early July! This will continue to serve as prime fuel for Beryl to keep its strength through Wednesday evening.

Once Beryl passes Jamaica, its strength forecasts are highly uncertain. Water temperatures are running about 1.5 C above normal, but there could also be wind shear denting the system and dry air tapping into it, which could serve as a choking mechanism. There is also Jamaica’s high terrain that could give the storm another punch.

Keep in mind that this storm’s forward speed is relatively fast, so the high terrain might not do much, especially if the system remains over water and doesn’t make landfall in Jamaica. Southeastern Mexico should prepare for at least a category 2 hurricane, but keep in mind that this system could arrive stronger.