Hurricane Beryl update: Latest track, forecast
As of 10 a.m. CT, Beryl had weakened to a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph. It was located about 100 miles east-southeast of Progreso, Mexico, and was moving west-northwest at 16 mph.
Beryl will probably weaken to a tropical storm briefly as it emerges over the Gulf of Mexico Friday evening, then attention turns to both its strength and path.
Hurricane Beryl path: How will it impact Texas and Houston?
As of this moment, it does not look like a monster storm, but will certainly bring the threat for gusty winds, coastal flooding and heavy rain from late Sunday through Monday and possibly Tuesday.
One bit of good news is that, for now, the hurricane is relatively small, so if its wind field remains on the small side, the wind and coastal impacts will be less severe.
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Monday and Tuesday will bring the risk for heavy rain to much of Texas, including the Houston area. We don’t know for sure where a heavy rain band might set up, but the risk is there, so keep that in mind for early next week.
Rip currents and high waves can also be expected Sunday and Monday.
In the short term, expect high heat with isolated rain today and a few heavy downpours this weekend unrelated to Beryl.
The FOX 26 Weather Team is closely monitoring developments. They will continue to keep you up-to-date online, on-air, on social media and on FOX Local.
Hurricane Beryl deaths: At least 9 killed in Caribbean
In Jamaica, authorities confirmed a young man died on Wednesday after he was swept into a storm water drain while trying to retrieve a ball. A woman also died after a house collapsed on her.
Three people were reported killed in Grenada and Carriacou and another in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, officials said. Three other deaths were reported in northern Venezuela, where four people were missing, officials said.
One fatality in Grenada occurred after a tree fell on a house, Kerryne James, the environment minister, told The Associated Press.
Historic Hurricane Beryl
Beryl strengthened from a tropical depression to a major hurricane in just 42 hours, which only six other Atlantic hurricanes have done, with Sept. 1 as the previous earliest date, according to hurricane expert Sam Lillo.
Beryl also marked the farthest east that a hurricane has formed in the tropical Atlantic in June, breaking a record set in 1933, according to Philip Klotzbach, Colorado State University hurricane researcher.
Hurricane preparedness list
JD’s Emergency Gear Test: Do you have enough food?
Meteorologist John “JD” Dawson focuses on food in this week’s emergency gear test.
You should have a disaster preparedness kit ready to go well before a storm is ever on the way. At a minimum, your kit should have the basic supplies like food, water, first aid supplies and flashlights.
Click here to see a list of basic supplies to include in your hurricane preparedness kit.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
