Tropical Storm Beryl swirls toward southeast Caribbean and threatens to strengthen into hurricane Boston 25 News [Video]

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — (AP) — Tropical Storm Beryl chugged toward the southeast Caribbean on Saturday and could strengthen into the year’s first hurricane before reaching Barbados late Sunday.

A hurricane watch was issued for Barbados as the island’s meteorological service warned of flash flooding and power outages. Beryl is expected to strengthen into a powerful Category 2 storm before reaching Barbados, with its center forecast to pass some 26 miles (45 kilometers) south of the island, said Sabu Best, the meteorological service’s director.

On Saturday, Beryl was located about 890 miles (1,435 kilometers) east-southeast of Barbados, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph). It was moving west at 21 mph (33 kph).

Forecasters say nearby islands that should prepare for Beryl include Martinique, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Warm waters are fueling Beryl, with ocean heat content in the deep Atlantic the highest …