NHC busy tracking Hurricane Beryl, Tropical Depression Chris, Invest 96L. Track all storms
Hurricane Beryl is poised to make landfall soon on the Windward Islands. The Category 3 hurricane is expected to bring life-threatening winds and storm surge to the islands this morning, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
But Beryl isn't the only system out there, and forecasters also are keeping an eye on former Tropical Storm Chris, which made landfall in Mexico early this morning, and Invest 96L, which is following in Beryl's path.
The National Hurricane Center warned Hurricane Beryl is expected to bring "potentially catastrophic hurricane-force winds, a life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves ... as Beryl passes over portions of the Windward Islands with the highest risk of the core in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada beginning later this morning."
Beryl is expected to remain a powerful hurricane as it moves west across the Caribbean.
AccuWeather hurricane experts said they expected the U.S. will avoid impacts from the storm but residents "should not let their guard down."
"At this point, the most likely scenario is for the storm to move westward into Mexico; however, it is very important to note that if the high pressure across the Southeast weakens, that can allow the storm to move farther north and potentially directly impact the Gulf Coast," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Forecaster Alex DaSilva.
The National Weather Service in Houston echoed that sentiment, saying there is "really not a lot to be alarmed about at the moment ... but just keep an eye on things as the week progresses."
Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Chris made landfall in the state of Veracruz in Mexico just before midnight local time. By 8 a.m., the storm had weakened into a tropical depression. The storm is bringing heavy rain and flooding over portions of eastern Mexico.
Invest 96L in the Atlantic is expected to become a tropical depression later this week.
The next storm of the season will be Debby.
2024 Atlantic hurricane season expected to be supercharged
Every forecast for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is predicting an above-normal season. The average number of named storms in a season is 14. AccuWeather forecasters have gone as far as saying 2024 could break the record of 30 named storms.
The presence of La Niña is a big factor in why every forecasting agency has been predicting a very active Atlantic hurricane season this year.
It doesn't help we're seeing record warm water temperatures in the Atlantic, which also provide fuel for tropical cyclones.
NOAA said May 2024 was the 14th consecutive month of record-warm global ocean temperatures.
Here's the latest update from the NHC as of 8 a.m. July 1:
Hurricane Beryl approaching Windward Islands with 'life-threatening winds'
Location: 125 miles east-southeast of Grenada
Maximum sustained winds: 120 mph
Movement: West at 20 mph
Central pressure: 965 mb
Tropical Storm Chris makes landfall in Mexico, weakens into tropical depression
Location: 60 miles south-southwest of Tuxpan, Mexico
Maximum sustained winds: 35 mph
Movement: West at 12 mph
At 8 a.m. EDT, the center of Tropical Depression Chris was located 60 miles south-southwest of Tuxpan, Mexico, near latitude 20.2 North, longitude 97.7 West.
Chris is moving toward the west near 12 mph, and this motion will continue until the system dissipates.
Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph, with higher gusts. Chris will likely dissipate over the higher terrain later this morning. The estimated minimum central pressure is 1007mb.
Invest 96L expected to become tropical depression this week
Invest 96L: Showers and thunderstorms continue in association with an area of low pressure located over 1,000 miles east-southeast of the Windward Islands.
➤ Track 96L: Spaghetti models for Invest 96L
Environmental conditions appear marginally conducive for additional development of this system, and a tropical depression could form by the middle part of this week while it moves generally westward at 15 to 20 mph across the central and western tropical Atlantic.
Residents in the Lesser Antilles should monitor the progress of this system.
Formation chance through 48 hours: low, 30 percent.
Formation chance through 7 days: medium, 60 percent.
Who is likely to be impacted?
Hurricane Beryl: Potentially catastrophic hurricane-force winds, a life- threatening storm surge, and damaging waves are expected when Beryl passes over portions of the Windward Islands with the highest risk of the core in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada beginning later this morning.
Tropical Storm Chris: Heavy rainfall will result in areas of flooding across portions of eastern Mexico this morning, with mudslides possible in areas of higher terrain. Tropical Depression Chris is expected to produce rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches across portions of eastern Mexico through this morning. Maximum rainfall totals around 12 inches are possible across the higher terrain of the Mexican states of Guanajuato, Queretaro, and San Luis Potosi.
Invest 96L: It's still too early to tell what or if this system will impact the U.S.
Forecasters urge all residents to continue monitoring the tropics and to always be prepared. That advice is particularly important for what is expected to be a very active hurricane season.
Weather watches and warnings issued in Florida
When is the Atlantic hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
When is the peak of hurricane season?
The peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center.
National Hurricane Center map: What are forecasters watching now?
Systems currently being monitored by the National Hurricane Center include:
Interactive map: Hurricanes, tropical storms that have passed near your city
Excessive rainfall forecast
What's next?
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This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Hurricane Beryl, Tropical Depression Chris. Invest 96L. Spaghetti models
