Beryl becomes first hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic season

MIAMI, Fla. (WTVD) -- Beryl has been upgraded to a hurricane, making it the first hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic season.



The latest update from the NHC shows this tiny storm located over 1,000 miles east-southeast of the Lesser Antilles Islands.

It's moving west at a fairly quick pace of 14 mph.

It's expected to pick up speed as we head toward Saturday.

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On this current track, it stays east of the Lesser Antilles through Sunday.



The latest satellite data shows maximum sustained winds up around 75 mph with gusts a bit higher and it could strengthen as we head through the day.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 995 mb (29.39 inches).

Beryl should weaken by late Saturday and become a tropical storm or degenerate into just an area of showers/thunderstorms near the Lesser Antilles late Sunday into Monday.

Incidentally, according to Philip Klotzbach, a hurricane expert from Colorado State University, this is only the third storm to reach hurricane strength in the tropical Atlantic (<20N, 60-20W) prior to August 1 since 1950.

The other two were both named Bertha.

One in 1996, and one in 2008.