Hurricane Watch In Effect for Dominica

Photo Caption: Graphic of Storm’s Map, (National Hurricane Center)

By: Staff Writer

Hurricane Beryl is expected to gain strength in the coming days and could still be a hurricane when it arrives to the Lesser Antilles islands late Sunday or Monday; With Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy under tropical storm warnings and Dominica under Hurricane watch, persons are asked to take the necessary precautionary measures.

The latest forescasts said interests elsewhere in the Lesser Antilles should monitor the progress of Hurricane Beryl, as additional watches could be required for other islands later tonight or early Saturday.

According to N.H.C.’s 5:00 p.m. advisory, the center of Hurricane Beryl was located near latitude 10.6 North, longitude 47.8 West.

Beryl is moving toward the west near 15 mph (24 km/h). A faster westward to west-northwestward motion is expected to begin over the weekend and continue through early next week. On the forecast track, the center of Beryl will approach the Lesser Antilles over the weekend and cross the island chain late Sunday or Monday.

With Maximum sustained winds near 80 mph (130 km/h) with higher gusts; Some strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days. The forecasts, imdicates that Beryl could still be a hurricane when it reaches the Lesser Antilles late Sunday or Monday.

While weakening is expected once Beryl reaches the eastern Caribbean Sea on Monday, the system may not degenerate into an open trough until it reaches the vicinity of Hispaniola and the central Caribbean Sea.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 10 miles (20 km) from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 994 mb (29.36 inches).