Warm Atlantic waters fuel Beryl to strengthen into new hurricane

Beryl becomes season’s 1st hurricane, 2nd named storm

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Beryl strengthened into a new hurricane on Saturday afternoon.

The Category 1 hurricane was about 720 miles east-south-east of Barbados and had maximum sustained winds of 75 mph while moving at 22 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 5 p.m. advisory.

Beryl was forecast to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane.

The warmest waters recorded for late June in the tropical Atlantic were to blame, according to Michael Lowry, the Local 10 News Weather Authority hurricane specialist and storm surge expert.

This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite image taken at 4:20pm EDT shows hurricane Beryl, lower center right, as it strengthens over the Atlantic Ocean and churns toward the southeast Caribbean on Saturday, June 29, 2024. (NOAA via AP)

Hurricane warnings were in effect for Barbados. Hurricane watches were in effect for St. Lucia, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines posing a threat within about 48 hours.

Barbados hosted the Twenty20 World Cup cricket final on Saturday in Bridgetown, and there were tourists from India and South Africa. Trinidad and Tobago was still recovering from flooding.

Alberto was the first storm of the Atlantic’s hurricane season, running from June 1 to Nov. 30 — and forecasted to be above average. Beryl is the season’s second named storm and the first hurricane.

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About the Authors
Peta Sheerwood headshot

Growing up in South Florida, Peta Sherwood was intrigued by the ever-changing weather, including sea breeze storms and the development of tropical systems.

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The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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