UPDATE: BERYL EXPECTED TO BECOME A DANGEROUS MAJOR HURRICANE BEFORE REACHING THE WINDWARD ISLANDS 2:00PM BULLETIN

SUMMARY OF 1100 AM AST…1500 UTC…INFORMATION

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LOCATION…10.0N 47.8W

ABOUT 820 MI…1320 KM ESE OF BARBADOS

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…65 MPH…100 KM/H

PRESENT MOVEMENT…W OR 275 DEGREES AT 23 MPH…37 KM/H

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…998 MB…29.47 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

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CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The government of France has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Martinique.  The government of St. Lucia has issued a Hurricane Watch for the island.  The government of Barbados has issued a Hurricane Watch for St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands.  The government of Trinidad and Tobago has issued a Hurricane Watch for Grenada and a Tropical Storm Watch for Tobago.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…

* Barbados

* St Lucia

* St. Vincent and the Grenadine Islands

* Grenada

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…

* Martinique

* Tobago

Interests elsewhere in the Lesser Antilles should closely monitor the progress of Beryl.  Additional watches and warnings will likely be required for portions of this area later today.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.

DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK

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At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Beryl was located near latitude 10.0 North, longitude 47.8 West. Beryl is moving toward the west near 23 mph (37 km/h).  A relatively quick westward to west-northwestward motion is expected during the next few days.  On the forecast track, the system is expected to move across the Windward Islands late Sunday night and Monday.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph (100 km/h) with higher gusts.  Rapid strengthening is now forecast, and Beryl is expected to become a major hurricane before it reaches the Windward Islands.