Hurricane Beryl tracker: Updates, projected path, location on Wednesday

Powerful Hurricane Beryl Wreaks Havoc Across the Caribbean

Hurricane Beryl, a formidable Category 4 storm, has caused multiple fatalities and widespread damage as it continues its destructive path across the Caribbean, heading towards the Gulf of Mexico later this week.

Current Status:

• As of 10 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Beryl was approximately 160 miles southeast of Grand Cayman and about 560 miles east-southeast of Tulum, Mexico.

• The hurricane is moving west-northwest at 21 mph, with sustained winds reaching 130 mph.

• Beryl is expected to approach the Cayman Islands later tonight.

Expected Path:

• The National Hurricane Center anticipates that Beryl will weaken over the coming days but remain near major hurricane strength as it approaches Jamaica and the Cayman Islands by Wednesday night or Thursday.

• It is projected to move over the Yucatan Peninsula on Friday.

Impact on Gulf of Mexico:

• Beryl is forecasted to enter the Gulf of Mexico this weekend. However, there is still uncertainty regarding its exact path and strength.

• The current cone of uncertainty includes parts of Mexico and Texas, particularly areas covered by FOX 26.

Casualties and Damage:

• Six deaths have been reported: three in Grenada and Carriacou, one in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and two in northern Venezuela, with five more people missing.

• One of the fatalities in Grenada occurred when a tree fell on a house, as confirmed by Environment Minister Kerryne James.

Historic Significance:

• Beryl intensified from a tropical depression to a major hurricane in just 42 hours, a rapid escalation observed in only six other Atlantic hurricanes.

• It set the record as the earliest Category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic, surpassing Hurricane Dennis from July 2005.

• Beryl also became the earliest recorded Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic basin and the second Category 5 hurricane to form in July, after Hurricane Emily in 2005.

• It formed the farthest east in the tropical Atlantic in June, breaking a record from 1933, as noted by hurricane researcher Philip Klotzbach from Colorado State University.

Monitoring and Updates:

• The FOX 26 Weather Team is closely monitoring the storm's developments and will provide continuous updates online, on-air, on social media, and on FOX Local.

Stay tuned to your local news sources and weather updates for the latest information on Hurricane Beryl and its potential impact on your area.