BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC—Barbados has issued a hurricane watch as the island prepares for the passage of Tropical Storm Beryl, which, on the forecast track, is expected to become a hurricane as it moves across the Windward Islands late Sunday night and Monday.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley urged Barbadians to take all precautions ahead of the storm and, in a nationwide broadcast on Friday night, said, “We could be facing, possibly, a category one hurricane within the next 48 hours,
“Whether we like it or not, the truth is we are living in different times. Do you hear me talking about climate change and the climate crisis? Well, this is where the rubber hits the road, and the truth is we will go through more and more moments like this,” she said
She said temperatures are rising “not only for us but in the ocean, and when they start to rise in the oceans, chances of storms and hurricanes are going to become greater and greater.”
In its 5.00 am (local time) bulletin, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that the storm was located about 975 miles east, southeast of Barbados with maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour (mph).
It said that interests in the Lesser Antilles should closely monitor Beryl’s progress and that additional watches and warnings will likely be required for portions of this area later on Saturday.
The NHC said Beryl is moving toward the west near 21 mph and that 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 50 mph with higher gusts. Additional steady to rapid strengthening is expected during the next few days, and Beryl will become a hurricane tonight or Sunday.”
The NHC said that hurricane conditions are possible in the hurricane watch area.
By Sunday night or Monday morning, with tropical storm conditions possible by Sunday.
Tropical Storm Beryl is expected to produce rainfall totals of three to six inches across Barbados and the Windward Islands. The NHC warns that “this rainfall may produce localized flooding in vulnerable areas.
It said the system’s swells are expected to reach the Windward and southern Leeward Islands by late Sunday.
“These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” it added.
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