Where is Hurricane Beryl now? Storm weakens Thursday as path continues toward South Texas

Hurricane Beryl is bringing strong winds and dangerous storm surges to the Cayman Islands after slamming Jamaica on Wednesday as a Category 4 storm with 140-mph winds.

Beryl was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane early Thursday and is forecast to weaken gradually as it heads toward the Yucatan Peninsula by late Thursday. A hurricane warning is in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, including Cozumel.

The National Weather Service office in Corpus Christi said on Wednesday afternoon that "it is looking more likely that Beryl will make landfall across far northeast Mexico or the South Texas Coast" as a Category 1 hurricane early next week. Authorities still advise to prepare for the event as if it's a Category 2 storm.

More: As Hurricane Beryl moves through the Caribbean, Corpus Christi prepares for possible hit

Hurricane Beryl current location

The center of Hurricane Beryl was located near latitude 18.7 North, longitude 81.8 West, according to the National Hurricane Center's latest advisory.

Beryl is moving toward the west-northwest near 20 mph. A westward to west- northwestward motion is expected during the next day or two, taking the core of Beryl away from the Cayman Islands this morning and over the Yucatan Peninsula early Friday.

Beryl is expected to emerge over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico Friday night and turn northwestward.

Hurricane Beryl tracker: Maps show storm's projected path as it heads toward South Texas

AccuWeather forecasters: Hurricane Beryl could directly impact portion of Texas coast

The impact on northeastern Mexico and southern Texas will depend on how much Beryl strengthens over the Gulf and its speed when it arrives.

In recent days, Beryl's wind field has increased, extending up to 185 miles from the center and bringing South Texas — from Brownsville to Corpus Christi — into the edge of the storm's impact.

"From Panama City, to New Orleans, there is a low risk of direct impacts from Beryl, but from about Corpus Christi to Brownsville, Texas, the risk increases significantly due to the potential for Beryl to have more direct impacts," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said.

"That southern portion of the Texas coast is the zone we have to really watch," he added.

More: History-making Hurricane Beryl likely to hit South Texas as Cat 1 storm next week, NWS says

Gov. Abbott issues warning to Texas coastal residents

Gov. Greg Abbott issued an advisory notice warning the state's emergency management agencies to prepare for storm response and recovery efforts as Hurricane Beryl's path shifts toward South Texas.

"As Texans around the south coastal areas make holiday plans and visitors begin to travel for the holiday weekend, I urge them to take necessary safety precautions, remain weather aware, and have an emergency plan ready for themselves and their families." the advisory said.

"State and local officials will continue to work around-the-clock to monitor statewide weather conditions and help protect Texans."

Hurricane Beryl tracker: See projected path

This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.

See spaghetti models for Hurricane Beryl

Texas weather watches and warnings

Hurricane storm tracker: See active storms in the Atlantic

— USA TODAY contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Hurricane Beryl update: Storm heads for Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday