Historic storm Beryl is forecast to make 3rd landfall as hurricane in Texas. See path
Days after its landfall on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Tropical Storm Beryl is intensifying again and is expected to make landfall as a hurricane along the Texas Coast.
On Monday, Beryl made landfall in Grenada's Carriacou Island as a Category 4 hurricane, ravaging the southern Caribbean Islands, flattening hundreds of buildings and killing at least six people. Later Monday night, it became the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record. Driven by record-high ocean temperatures, Beryl's rapid strengthening stunned experts.
Beryl also was the earliest Category 4 hurricane on record — before dropping to Category 3 on Monday — and is the first June major hurricane east of the Lesser Antilles on record.
Other than Beryl, tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next seven days, according to the National Hurricane Center. Here's the latest update from the hurricane center as of Saturday afternoon:
Where is Hurricane Beryl going to hit? Track path
Location: 415 miles southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas
Maximum sustained winds: 60 mph
Movement: west-northwest at 12 mph
Hurricane Beryl: Here's latest information on strength, forecast path
As of 2 p.m., the center of Tropical Storm Beryl was approximately 415 miles southeast of Corpus Christi. The storm was forecast to turn toward the northwest later Saturday and then north-northwestward by Sunday night.
The historic storm currently has maximum sustained winds near 60 mph with tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 125 miles from the center.
On the forecast track, the center of Beryl is expected to approach the Texas coast by late Sunday into Monday morning. It is likely to intensify into a Category 1 hurricane before landfall along the mid-Texas coast on Monday. The National Weather Service office in Corpus Christi advises residents to prepare for a Category 2.
"Still some uncertainty with the exact strength and track Beryl will take, but an eastward trend in the guidance continues," the advisory stated.
More: South Texas surfers ride out waves caused by tropical storms and hurricanes
The earliest time of tropical-storm-force winds is Sunday morning, but they are more likely Sunday evening, according to NWS. Potential for widespread heavy rain will begin Sunday.
Large swells generated by Beryl are expected to reach much of the Gulf Coast of the U.S. The swells are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.
Spaghetti models: Where will Hurricane Beryl go next?
Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The Hurricane Center uses only the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts.
Watches and warnings issued for Hurricane Beryl in Texas, Mexico
Hurricane watch
A hurricane watch is in effect for the following:
The Texas coast from the mouth of the Rio Grande northward to San Luis Pass.
A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.
A hurricane warning will likely be issued for a portion of the Texas coast this afternoon.
Tropical storm warning
A tropical storm warning is in effect for the following:
The Texas coast south of Baffin Bay to the mouth of the Rio Grande River.
The northeastern coast of mainland Mexico from Barra el Mezquital to the mouth of the Rio Grande River.
A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.
Storm surge watch
A storm surge watch is in effect for the following:
The Texas coast from the mouth of the Rio Grande northward to High Island.
A storm surge watch means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
Texas weather watches and warnings
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Hurricane Beryl's path keeps shifting. Where in Texas will it hit?
