Tropical Storm Beryl forecast to become season’s first major hurricane

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Tropical Storm Beryl chugged toward the southeast Caribbean on Saturday as forecasters warned it was expected to strengthen into a dangerous major hurricane before reaching Barbados late Sunday. A major hurricane is considered Category 3 or higher when it has winds of at least 178 kilometers per hour (111 miles per hour). Hurricane watches were in effect for Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, while a tropical storm watch was issued for Martinique and Tobago.