Hurricane Beryl ‘Not A Threat At This Time’
[Updated: The depression has strengthened into a hurricane, the first of the 2018 Atlantic Season]
Tropical Depression Two has formed in the Atlantic, however is “not a threat to Bermuda at this time”, the Bermuda Weather Service said with its closest point of approach to Bermuda within 72 hrs is forecast to be 1147 nm to the SSE, 9am on Sunday [July 8], with the BWS noting that “this system may move closer to Bermuda after this time period depending upon its track.”
Graphic courtesy of the BWS:
The latest forecast from the U.S. National Hurricane Center said, “At 1100 AM AST [1500 UTC], the center of Tropical Depression Two was located near latitude 10.2 North, longitude 41.4 West. The depression is moving toward the west near 16 mph [26 km/h]. A fast westward to west-northwestward motion is expected through the weekend.
“Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph [55 km/h] with higher gusts. Some strengthening is possible, and the depression could become a tropical storm later today or on Friday. The system is forecast to degenerate into an open trough east of the Lesser Antilles over the weekend.
“The estimated minimum central pressure is 1009 mb [29.80 inches].”
Graphic courtesy of the NHC:
Update 5.18pm: The NHC said this has strengthened into Tropical Storm Beryl, the second named storm of the 2018 hurricane season.
The NHC said, “Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 50 mph [85 km/h] with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast, and Beryl could become a hurricane by Friday or Saturday. Beryl is forecast to degenerate into an open trough just east of the Lesser Antilles over the weekend.
“Beryl is a tiny tropical storm. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles [55 km] from the center.”
Update July 6, 8.16am: The NHC has now upgraded this to a hurricane, the first of the 2018 Atlantic season, and the BWS continues to note that it is “not a threat to Bermuda at this time.”
We already have a storm. It’s called the PLP.