Tracking the Tropics: Hurricane Beryl remains powerful Category 4 storm as it moves across the Caribbean

Tune in to Tracking the Tropics today at 12:30 p.m ET/11:30 CT for the latest on Hurricane Beryl, where it's headed, and why it's a historic storm.

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Hurricane Beryl weakened to a Category 4 storm Tuesday after becoming a Category 5 storm on Monday night.

Max Defender 8 meteorologist Leigh Spann said Beryl is the strongest storm on record this early in the season. Its winds intensified by 95 mph in just 48 hours.

As of the 5 p.m. advisory, the hurricane is moving west-northwest at 22 mph and is forecast to continue to move west-northwest over the next few days before turning westward by Thursday.

It's currently located about 420 miles away from Jamaica with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph.

The National Hurricane Center said Beryl will move quickly across the southeastern and central Caribbean Sea on Tuesday. The eye is expected to pass near Jamaica on Wednesday at or near major hurricane status.

"Weakening should begin later today, but Beryl is still expected to be near major hurricane intensity as it moves into the central Caribbean and passes near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday," NHC forecasters said.

The NHC said heavy rainfall, flash flooding and "life-threatening" winds are possible over portions of Jamaica.

Beryl is expected to weaken after it passes the Cayman Islands, however, it is forecast to remain a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean. Some weakening is possible Tuesday.

The following watches and warnings are in place:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for:

• Jamaica
• Grand Cayman
• Little Cayman and Cayman Brac

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for:

• South coast of Haiti from the border with the Dominican
  Republic to Anse d'Hainault

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for:

• South coast of the Dominican Republic from Punta Palenque westward
  to the border with Haiti
• South coast of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Anse d'Hainault

The National Hurricane Center is also watching an area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms about 1,000 miles east-southeast of the Windward Islands.

Forecasters said conditions are only marginally conducive for additional development as it moves across the central and western tropical Atlantic. It could bring heavy rainfall to the Lesser Antilles by midweek.

It has a 20 percent chance of developing over the next seven days.