Reports say two of Jamaica's main airports will close tonight ahead of Hurricane Beryl's arrival Wednesday, which is predicted to bring "devastating hurricane-force winds," according to the National Hurricane Center .
NHC officials said Beryl is showing now signs of slowing down as it makes it way toward Jamaica hours after it ravaged parts of the southern Caribbean.
The winds have remained steady at 2 mph below the Category 5 hurricane threshold since an update at 2 p.m. ET. A hurricane hunter aircraft is scheduled to reassess Beryl around 8 p.m. ET. and report whether its strength changed.
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The NHC said parts of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands may be in for severe weather Wednesday night as Beryl is poised to bring “Devastating hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surge , and damaging waves," the agency said. There is also the troubling prospect of extremely heavy rainfall, up to 12 inches in isolated areas, and life-threatening flash floods.
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Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica's largest airport, will temporarily shut down Tuesday night around midnight and remain that way well into Wednesday to ensure safety, the airport said in a press release. Furthermore, Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston will shut its doors earlier at 10 p.m. local time.
Officials said they will conduct a comprehensive assessment of any damage done by Hurricane Beryl after it departs the area. From there the agency will determine when it's safe to resume normal operations.
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Beryl remains an formidable storm as it currently sustains winds of 155 miles per hour, according to the NHC. Forecasters have reported the hurricane will likely weaken gradually as it travels across the Caribbean Sea Wednesday night, but will likely remain at or near major hurricane—at least Category 3 intensity.
Rainfall could reach 4 to 8 inches in certain areas but pose a much bigger risk for smaller, isolated portions. The storm will likely weaken as it continues to move Wednesday night into early Thursday. It still has a chance to make it to the Yucatan Peninsula, although significantly weaker with Category 1 intensity, Friday morning.
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NHC officials said its then expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico as a tropical storm. “There remains uncertainty in the track and intensity forecast of Beryl over the western Gulf of Mexico this weekend. Interests in the southwestern and western Gulf of Mexico should monitor the progress of Beryl,” the National Hurricane Center said.
Hurricane Beryl broke record for the earliest storm to reach Category 5 intensity in the Atlantic. As it rampaged portions of the southern Caribbean Tuesday, it killed six individuals.
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