Hurricane Watch in Effect for Barbados

Tropical Storm Beryl is expected to intensify into a hurricane before reaching Barbados late Sunday night, prompting the issuance of a Hurricane Watch for the island.

A Hurricane Watch is declared when sustained winds of 64 knots or greater (74 mph; 119 km/h) associated with a hurricane are predicted to impact Barbados within 48 hours.

As of 5:00 a.m. today, Tropical Storm Beryl has continued to intensify and is located near 9.8N 45.5W, approximately 1570 km (981 miles) east-southeast of Barbados.

It currently has maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h and is moving west at 33 km/h, with a minimum central pressure of 1001 mb.

Based on the current projected path, the center of Beryl is expected to pass about 45 km (26 miles) south of Barbados, with the island likely to experience the effects of the storm as early as late Sunday night (June 30). Residents are warned that strong winds could cause damage to homes and properties, and there is a high risk of flash flooding, particularly in flood-prone areas. Severe thunderstorm activity may also lead to power outages and service disruptions.