UPDATE: Hurricane Beryl rapidly strengthening in the Atlantic

Tropical Storm Beryl intensified into a Category 1 hurricane Saturday afternoon, marking the furthest east a hurricane has formed in the Atlantic in June. The storm is rapidly strengthening as it approaches the Windward Islands and is expected to become a major hurricane soon.

Beryl has become significantly better organized over the past 24 hours, developing a small, compact core that will enable further strengthening over the next few days. The National Hurricane Center's official track shows a major hurricane impacting the Windward Islands, with flooding rain, storm surge, and damaging wind all potential impacts. Due to the storm’s small core, hurricane-force winds will be limited to a small area as it crosses the islands on Monday. Even minor changes in track can significantly change which islands receive hurricane-force winds. Regardless of exact track details, those in the Windward Islands must prepare for hurricane impacts at this time.

Upon entering the Caribbean Sea on Monday afternoon, the next areas likely to be affected are the central Caribbean islands. Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic should pay close attention to this system.

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