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Beryl has strengthened to become the first hurricane of the 2018 tropical season. The storm is "tiny" compared to most with hurricane force winds extending only 10 miles from the center. Tropical storm force winds only extend 35 miles from the center.
According to the National Hurricane Center's 5 p.m. advisory, Beryl has become a little stronger as it approaches the Lesser Antilles with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph.
#BERYL | The hurricane has winds at 80 mph and is now forecast to reach Category 2 strength east of the islands. @abcactionnews #Tropics #HurricaneBeryl pic.twitter.com/6uEUv9pFzs
— Jason Adams (@JasonAdamsWFTS) July 6, 2018
The government of Barbados has issued a Hurricane Watch for Dominica. The government of France has issued a Tropical Storm Watch for Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Martin, and St. Barthelemy. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area.
Though the storm is expected to remain a hurricane Friday and Saturday, it will weaken as it approaches the islands.
Strong upper-level winds are forecast to tear the storm apart next week possibly weakening it to just an ordinary low-pressure center with heavy rain and some gusty winds.
The weakened storm may pass close to Puerto Rico early next week.
The storm is located between the Cabo Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles.
Forecasters expect it to move westward or west-northwestward at 15 to 20 mph over the tropical Atlantic Ocean.
