Hurricane Beryl continues to churn through the Caribbean as a powerful Category 4 storm, maintaining maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. As of 11 PM EDT, the hurricane was located about 160 miles southeast of Grand Cayman and 560 miles east-southeast of Tulum, Mexico, moving west-northwest at 21 mph.

The National Hurricane Center has expanded hurricane warnings to include Cozumel, while tropical storm warnings now extend to Campeche on Mexico’s Gulf coast. Key areas under hurricane warning include:

1. Jamaica
2. Cayman Islands
3. Mexican Yucatan Peninsula from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, including Cozumel

Beryl is expected to bring severe conditions to the region, including:

• Destructive winds up to 130 mph
• Storm surge of up to 6 to 9 feet in Jamaica, 2 to 4 feet in the Cayman Islands, and 4 to 6 feet along the eastern Yucatan Peninsula
• Heavy rainfall of 4 to 8 inches, with isolated amounts up to 12 inches, posing risks of flash floods and mudslides
• Dangerous surf and rip currents along affected coastlines

The hurricane is forecast to pass near the Cayman Islands overnight before making landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula late Thursday night or Friday morning. While some weakening is expected, Beryl is likely to remain a major hurricane as it passes the Cayman Islands and is predicted to still be at hurricane strength when it reaches the Yucatan.

After crossing the peninsula, Beryl is expected to emerge over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico Friday night, potentially impacting other areas including southern Texas. Residents in all affected areas are urged to complete preparations immediately and follow instructions from local authorities.