By Chantalé Fletcher
THE Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) monitors Tropical Storm Beryl which is strengthening in the Eastern Atlantic.
In an update at 5 am on Saturday, TTMS stated the Storm was located at 9.8ºN latitude 45.5ºW longitude, approximately 1570 kilometres ESE of Trinidad and Tobago.
The US National Hurricane Centre has indicated that Tropical Storm Beryl was strengthening.
The system was forecast to track westward at 33km/h. A relatively quick westward to west-northwestward motion is expected during the next few days.
TTMS stated, “On the forecast track, the system is expected to move across the Windward Islands late Sunday night and Monday.
“Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Additional steady to rapid strengthening is expected during the next couple of days, and Beryl is expected to become a hurricane tonight or Sunday.”
At this time, the Met Office stated the system posed no direct threat to Trinidad.
“However, based on current track, Tobago lies on the southern edge of the cone there is a low to medium (30% to 50%) chance of Tropical Storm conditions favouring Tobago.”
However, TTMS stated the initial outlook for Trinidad and Tobago was cloudy skies with showers and a medium to high chance of thunderstorm activity by July 1. And sea conditions are expected to become further agitated.
