Bridgetown, Barbados – Tropical Storm Beryl is making its way towards the southeast Caribbean region, with the potential to develop into the first hurricane of the year by the time it reaches Barbados late Sunday.

Barbados has issued a hurricane watch as the local meteorological service warns of flash flooding and possible power outages. The storm is projected to pass approximately 26 miles south of the island. As of early Saturday, Beryl was situated about 975 miles east-southeast of Barbados, carrying maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. It is moving west at a rate of 21 mph.

Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley has urged citizens to stay prepared for any potential impacts, especially with the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup cricket final happening in the capital, Bridgetown. Thousands of people are in Barbados for the cricket match between India and South Africa.

Beryl marks the second named storm in what experts predict to be an active hurricane season in the Atlantic, which lasts from June 1 to November 30. Prior to Beryl, Tropical Storm Alberto brought significant flooding to parts of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico, resulting in at least four fatalities in the Mexican states of Nuevo Leon and Veracruz.

The unusual development of a tropical storm in the far eastern tropical Atlantic has caught the attention of hurricane experts, with only a handful of named storms historically forming in that region. The storm is expected to bring up to 6 inches of rain to Barbados and nearby islands, with a high surf warning effecting caution of waves up to 13 feet.

Amidst the threat of Beryl, Trinidad and Tobago recently experienced major flooding in their capital due to an unrelated weather occurrence. This comes shortly after a no-name storm deluged South Florida with over 20 inches of rain, causing significant damage and stranding motorists.

The National Hurricane Center typically sees the first hurricane of the season forming in early to mid-August, making Beryl’s potential transformation into a hurricane quite uncommon. Recent reports from NOAA indicate an above-average hurricane season, with predicted numbers of storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes.

As Beryl progresses towards Barbados and the southeastern Caribbean, preparations are underway to mitigate potential risks and ensure safety for residents and visitors in the region.