DOTHAN, Ala. (WDHN) — On Sunday, Hurricane Beryl strengthened to a major category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. Intense hurricanes this early in the season are rare. In fact, Hurricane Beryl is now the earliest category 4 hurricane on record in the Atlantic Ocean.

5 p.m. CT, Beryl was about 250 miles east southeast of Barbados and moving WNW at 18 mph.

Beryl is expected to bring extremely dangerous and life-threatening conditions to the Windward Islands, with tropical storm-force winds arriving late Sunday or early Monday. Beryl will bring a risk of heavy rainfall, hurricane-force winds, high storm surge, and waves to those in its path.

Over the next five days, Beryl is forecast to track west into the Caribbean Sea and experience a slow weakening trend as the storm encounters slightly less favorable conditions. With Beryl inching closer, Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for parts of the Dominican Republic and Hati.

By Friday, Beryl is anticipated to move toward the Yucatán Peninsula as a weakening hurricane. A second landfall is possible, although confidence in the exact track of Beryl decreases with time, so the forecast is not certain.

It’s still too early to determine what, if any, impacts Beryl will bring to the Wiregrass, although much of the long-term data suggests that if Beryl becomes a threat to the United States, Texas, and Louisana would be at a higher risk than southeast Alabama and Florida.

Stay with the WDHN First Alert Storm Team for updates on where Beryl is heading and any possible impacts the Wiregrass may feel.

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