Maps show Hurricane Beryl closing in on the Caribbean as forecasters warn first storm of the season is ‘extremely dangerous’ and winds could hit 155mph [Video]

Hurricane Beryl is closing in on the southeastern Caribbean and officials have warned that the ‘extremely dangerous’ storm could make landfall this morning.

Residents have been warned to take shelter and make emergency preparations as the ‘powerful and potentially deadly’ Category 3 storm moves towards the islands of Barbados, Dominica, Grenada and Martinique. 

Forecasters predict the Beryl will develop into a category four hurricane and could hit winds of up to 155mph and a storm surge of 6 to 10feet.

Beryl is expected to pass south of Barbados early today and then head into the sea towards Jamaica, maps from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) show. The storm will weaken by midweek but still remain a hurricane as it heads towards Mexico.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as well as Grenada are at the highest risk of being at the center of the storm’s core beginning today, the NHC warned, adding that ‘potentially catastrophic wind damage is expected’.