MIDWAY, Fla. (WTXL) -- Hurricane Beryl remains a small hurricane but potent enough to undergo intensification despite less-than-ideal atmospheric conditions ahead of it.
Hurricane Beryl is nearly 1,000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles and was moving west late Friday afternoon at 16 mph.
Peak wind speeds were estimated at 80 mph, with some higher gusts. However, tropical storm wind gusts only reach out 35 miles from the storm's center.
Beryl's strength is likely to be sustained through Saturday as water temperatures are barely warm enough, and upper-level winds are relatively light.
The intensification trend is not expected to persist, as very dry air, faster upper winds, and minimally warm ocean temperatures will likely cause Beryl to degrade into a weaker system early next week. Possible dissipation as a tropical cyclone may occur later next week, but the remnants of the system may continue to move west-northwest through the Caribbean as a source of moisture.
