Tropical Storm Beryl forms in Atlantic, could become hurricane Sunday

Editor's Note: Tropical Storm Beryl could become the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2024 season. Click here for the latest update .

Tropical Storm Beryl, the second tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, formed Friday as it churned westward in the Atlantic east of the Windward Islands. Beryl could be a hurricane by Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said Friday.

With maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, Tropical Storm Beryl is moving westward at an estimated 18 mph, about 1,100 miles east of the Windward Islands.

Conditions in the ocean and atmosphere around the storm are "conducive for steady strengthening during the next few days," hurricane specialist John Cangialosi wrote in the center's 5 p.m. Friday advisory. He added that some of the model guidance used to forecast tropical cyclones predicts the system could become a major hurricane before reaching the Windward Islands on Sunday night or early Monday.

Interests in the Lesser Antilles should closely monitor the progress of this system, the center stated. The storm is expected to move relatively quickly westward to west-northwestward during the next few days and could become a tropical storm overnight Friday or early Saturday morning.

The hurricane center is also monitoring two other tropical waves in the Atlantic, including a system in the northwest Caribbean, but gives both systems a 40% chance or less of development over the next seven days.

"Regardless of development, heavy rainfall associated with the tropical wave will affect portions of Central America and Mexico through the weekend," the center said in its Friday morning advisory.

2024 Atlantic hurricane season names: List of 2024 Atlantic hurricane season storm names starts with Alberto and Beryl

Atlantic storm tracker

Invest 95L spaghetti models

Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.

Invest 94L spaghetti models

Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.

Contributing: Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network-Florida

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tropical Storm Beryl forms in Atlantic, could become hurricane Sunday