Hurricane Beryl still a Cat 4 storm, nears the coast of Jamaica

5 p.m. update:

ORLANDO, Fla. — Beryl’s eyewall is brushing the south coast of Jamaica as hurricane conditions are ongoing for the south side of the island.

While Beryl my not technically make landfall, as the center of the storm would need to cross land for that to happen, the worst weather is in the eyewall which is hitting the island’s south coast.

After battling wind shear, with some weakening in the last 24 hours, Beryl is still a category 4 hurricane with 140mph.

The latest track shows Beryl passing south of the Cayman Islands overnight and approaching the Yucatan Peninsula as a Category 2.

From there, weakening over the Yucatan Peninsula, then moving back over the Gulf, intensifying to hurricane strength with potential impacts to south of Texas by early next week.

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4 p.m. update:

Center of major Hurricane Beryl is brushing the southern coast of Jamaica with gusts over hurricane force on the island.

Winds are still at 140mph, just a few miles off the southern coast.

The eyewall is now brushing southern coast of Jamaica

Gusts at hurricane strength are being reported right now.

11:48 a.m. update:

Hurricane Beryl is maintaining its Category 4 strength as it barrels toward Jamaica.

The National Hurricane Center clocked the storm’s maximum winds at 145 mph late Wednesday morning.

Beryl is is moving closer to the southern coastline of Jamaica.

Tropical storm conditions are already spreading across the island, with hurricane conditions expected over the next several hours.

READ: Jamaicans brace for Hurricane Beryl as the storm barrels toward the island

Beryl will bring devastating winds and storm surge to portions of the island.

READ: Wednesday: Another scorcher with a chance for storms

Meteorologist George Waldenberger said storm surge may peak around 9 feet in some areas of the coast, while up to a foot of rain could pose a flooding and mudslide risk.

Beryl’s organization has suffered somewhat due to wind shear, with the eye becoming less visible, Waldenberger said.

A continuation of wind shear should allow Beryl to further weaken before the Yucatan, but the storm may reorganize after moving into the Gulf again by this weekend.

READ: Brevard man prepares to fly into storm to help bring clean water to storm victims

Channel 9′s team of meteorologists is continuing to monitor Hurricane Beryl.

You can monitor updates throughout the day on Channel 9 and here on WFTV.com.

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