This morning at 2:00 a.m., the eye of Hurricane Beryl, a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson, was located near latitude 11.5 north and longitude 59.1 west, or 1540 km to the South-East of Haiti, 175 km South-South-East of Barbados and 265 km East-South-East of Grenada.

Beryl is moving westward at nearly 20 mph (31 km/h). Rapid and continued westward to west-northwestward movement is expected over the next few days. On the forecast track, the center of Beryl is expected to move across the Windward Islands this morning and into the southeast and central Caribbean Sea late today through Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 120 mph (195 km/h) with higher gusts. Beryl is a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Fluctuations in strength are likely over the next few days, but Beryl is expected to remain a dangerous major hurricane as its core moves across the Windward Islands toward the eastern Caribbean.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from the center and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles (185 km). Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados recently reported wind gusts reaching 72 km/h.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for the southern coast of the Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque westward to the border with Haiti, as well as for the southern coast of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Hainault Cove.

A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible in the watch area, usually within 48 hours.

According to current forecasts from Tuesday, particularly the southern coast of Haiti would receive strong gusts of winds and rain. Rainfall from Beryl could impact parts of southern Hispaniola Tuesday through Wednesday, with 50 to 150 mm of rain possible.

More details to come in the coming hours...

HL/ HaitiLibre