AccuWeather ‘not sounding alarm bells’ but don’t let your guard down

The second named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to form today or Saturday, less than a week before the Fourth of July holiday.

Predictions call for it to quickly become the first hurricane of the season as it moves into the Caribbean.

Although it’s currently Invest 95L, once named, it’ll be Beryl.

➤ Spaghetti models for Invest 95L

➤ Track all active storms

While the future Beryl is expected to approach the Lesser Antilles by the end of the weekend, predictions on where it will go after that depend on a variety of factors.

Could Florida feel an impact from what will become Beryl, and could any impacts affect your Fourth of July plans? Here’s what you should know.

Current forecast for Invest 95L. When will it become Tropical Storm Beryl?

Invest 95L: A low pressure system located about 1500 miles east-southeast of the Windward Islands is gradually becoming better defined.

Showers and thunderstorms are also showing signs of organization, and a tropical depression or tropical storm will likely form later today or on Saturday.

➤ Tropics watch June 28: Tropical Storm Beryl expected to form soon

This system is expected to move westward at 15 to 20 mph and approach the Lesser Antilles by the end of the weekend. Residents in the area should monitor the progress of this system.

• Formation chance through 48 hours: high, 90 percent.
• Formation chance through 7 days: high, 90 percent.

Spaghetti models for Invest 95L. Will it approach Florida?

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Special note about spaghetti models: Spaghetti model illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.

Invest 95L becoming better organized. Could become hurricane early next week

“As we speak, the storm is betting a lot better organized and may form later today or by tomorrow morning” into Tropical Storm Beryl, said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather lead hurricane forecaster

“The official forecast is for a strong tropical storm to approach the Less Antilles Monday. It may become a hurricane by then, and we’re getting a little more concerned about that possibility” DaSilva said.

“There’s plenty of warm water. Wind shear is decreasing as the storm moves west. It’s dealing with some dry air and wind shear right now but (conditions) are turning more favorable for development over the weekend.”

Timeline: Where could Beryl go and when will it become a hurricane?

Look for the storm to approach the Lesser Antilles Monday and move into the Central Caribbean Tuesday or Wednesday.

Where it goes after that, along with development, depend on a couple of factors: land interaction and a system of high pressure over the southeastern United States, DaSilva said.

If it moves over Hispaniola or eastern Cuba, the land and mountains could disrupt its circulation, leading to less organization and weakening from a wind speed perspective. That doesn’t mean those areas wouldn’t feel an impact from the storm, which could dump a huge amount of rain on the islands, DaSilva said.

By the Fourth of July, the storm will likely be a hurricane in the western Caribbean, south of Cuba.

“From that point, we’re going to have to watch an area of high pressure across the southeastern U.S. If there is weakness in that high-pressure system, (Beryl) could be drawn up north into either the Gulf of Mexico or the Florida Peninsula,” DaSilva said.

Timing would be next weekend if it does get drawn north, so really watch this thing July 5-7, DaSilva said.

If the system of high pressure stays strong, the storm will be forced west and go into Yucatan and Mexico. with no real impacts to the U.S.

Will Florida feel any impact from Beryl on Fourth of July?

The system that’s expected to become Beryl is compact so nothing should be felt across Florida on the Fourth of July that’s associated with the storm.

“You may get just the normal run-of-the-mill summer thunderstorms, but nothing associated with Beryl,” DaSilva said.

July 4th Florida forecast: Scorching heat and severe storms ahead. Where to watch in Florida. See radar

Worst-case scenario: Florida could feel impact from Beryl by next weekend

Long-range forecasts can change a lot and depend on several evolving factors, but the worst-case scenario could see some impact from Beryl across Florida next weekend.

How much or even if anything is felt depend on the state of the storm later next week and interaction with the islands, which could pull it apart. But if there’s less interaction with land, the system could become more organized, DaSilva said.

A worst case scenario all depend on the state of the storm next week and that interaction with Cuba and Hispaniola. One possibility is rain associated with Beryl affecting Florida next weekend.

The most likely scenario is that Beryl will head west into Mexico and miss Florida entirely, DaSilva said.

“We want people to be alert and aware. We don’t want people to be caught off guard. We’re not sounding alarm bells, and the holiday looks OK. Beyond that, just watch and see,” DaSilva said.

Hurricane Beryl likely to ‘plow’ through Windward Islands next week

Hurricane Tracker App tweeted Friday morning:

“It’s becoming likely that we will have a Hurricane named #Beryl plowing through the Windward Islands Mon am through Tues am.

“Data shows it reaching Cat 1 status with winds 74-95 mph. All interests in the Windward Islands should be preparing for a hurricane. Upgrade likely today (Friday, June 28).”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has vetoed a bill that would have given the state the power to close beaches if tests show water does not reach the state’s health standards.

DeSantis made the call this week, despite Floridians being warned against swimming due to “fecal pollution” just two months ago.

If the bill had gone through, local authorities of beach waters and public bathing places would have had to notify the Department of Health whenever testing water was below recommended health standards.

The Department of Health then “shall require the closure of beach waters and public bathing places that fail to meet the department’s standards if it deems closure is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public,” the bill read.

But Desantis wrote in his veto letter that the bill “suffers from a fatal infirmity” as it “grants authority to the Florida Department of Health (DOH) to close beaches, waterways, and swimming pools.”

He said: “Health Departments like DOH can serve a valuable function, but they should not be vested with the power to supersede local jurisdictions regarding the operation of beaches.

“I have made water quality and protecting Florida’s natural resources a priority and my Administration will continue to do so, but this grant of power to DOH over Florida beaches is ill-advised.”

On June 13, the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County Healthy Beaches program issued health advisories for Dubois Park, Sandoway-Delray Beach and South Inlet Park.

Sampling showed bacterial levels to be more than 71 colonies per milliliter of marine water, putting the beaches’ results in the “poor” category.

Anything that is seen as “poor” should be “considered a potential health risk to the bathing public,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

At the end of April, the same department told residents not to swim at several beaches, including Midtown Beach and Dubois Park, in Jupiter.

Water in these two areas had tested positive for high levels of enterococcus bacteria, which the department said “is an indication of fecal pollution.”

It added that this may “come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife, and human sewage” and could put swimmers at an “increased risk of illness,”

In both spots, water was recorded as “poor”, meaning it measured 71 or greater enterococci per 100 milliliters of marine water.

Infections from enterococci “are typically not considered harmful to humans, but their presence in the environment may indicate that other disease-causing agents such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoa [a microorganic parasite] may also be present,” according to the EPA.

Newsweek contacted DeSantis’ press office, via its email address, for comment on this context and was directed to his veto letter.

Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reported Thursday that former Florida Gators guard Zyon Pullin signed a two-way player deal with the Miami Heat after going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft. 

It’s no surprise that Pullin stayed in Florida to sign with the Heat. Miami hosted the guard in early June. Furthermore, his college production more than shows that he can hang with almost anyone in this year’s draft. 

With the Gators, Pullin averaged 15.5 points per game, 4.9 assists and 3.9 rebounds. He also set Florida’s single-season record with a 3.77 assist-to-turnover ratio, which was the best ratio by an SEC player since 2000.

Moreover, he reached double figures in 23 straight games to start his career, which set a new program record.

As a result of his terrific performances in his only season with the Gators, Pullin was named to first-team All-SEC. 

This might not be how Pullin hoped to make an NBA roster, but the most important thing is that he has a chance in the league with the Heat. 

Pullin will get the chance to learn from one of the best coaches the NBA has ever seen in Erik Spoelstra. Moreover, the Heat have a great culture and are known to give chances to anyone regardless of their draft position.  

Miami currently has multiple players who were undrafted but earned significant minutes during the regular season the past couple of years. Jamal Cain, Duncan Robinson and Caleb Martin are the most notable examples. 

Robinson and Martin have earned second NBA contracts too, which is no small feat for an undrafted player. 

The Heat are as good of a landing spot as any for Pullin. Now, the ex-Florida guard must prove he belongs.

As a two-way player, Pullin can play with both the Heat and for the organization’s G-League affiliate. However, he will not able to play all 82 games at the NBA level.

The league rules state that “players under NBA two-Way contracts may be active for up to 50 games with their NBA team.”