WRI Charter Forecast Packages
David Cannon, Director of Operations

Do you have any local cruising or chartering plans in the weeks ahead? If so, we at WRI would like to inform you of our special discount charter forecast packages.

Standard prepaid packages come in bundles of 7, 10, and 15, with forecasts going out to five days, showing all of the detailed weather and routing information that you have come to know from our "traditional" customized services. Forecast maps showing your vessel's dead-reckoned position can also be included on request. Customized packages, also provided at a discount from our normal per forecast rates if you so choose.

Also, while actively receiving our services, you are then eligible for our complimentary instant severe weather alerts, to keep you informed of any impending weather dangers ... and don't forget our SeaWeather online weather information service, which can serve as a valuable supplement to our forecast services.

We invite you to contact us for more information.

Hurricane Beryl Shatters Records
Amanda Delaney, Senior Meteorologist

Meteorologists predicted a highly active Atlantic tropical cyclone season and forecasted the greatest number of major hurricanes for a season. The forecast appears to be on track with Hurricane Beryl’s early development and rapid intensification that shattered early season records.

Exceptionally high sea surface temperatures across the Tropical Atlantic Ocean and low wind shear provided conditions that were ideal over the Central Atlantic for an early tropical wave that moved offshore western Africa to form into a tropical depression by June 28th. These are conditions that usually occur more towards the end of July through September.  

The tropical depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Beryl 6 hours later, then became a hurricane 18 hours later breaking its first record as the Eastern most hurricane to ever form in June (the last time this occurred was in 1933).  As Hurricane Beryl strengthened, more records were broken:

•    Hurricane Beryl was the strongest hurricane in June reaching sustained winds of 115kts on June 30th.
•    Hurricane Beryl became the earliest category 4 and category 5 system to form. The previous category 5 hurricane that had the record was Hurricane Emily back in 2005.
•    Hurricane Beryl was the earliest tropical cyclone to undergo rapid intensification (transitioning from a tropical storm to a category 5 hurricane in just 42 hours) along the Cape Verde track. Other systems that underwent rapid intensification along this route did this in September or later.
•    Hurricane Beryl became the highest Accelerated Cyclone Energy (ACE) generating storm before August. As of July 9th, the ACE index was 36.1 for the Atlantic. Climatologically the ACE Index is usually around 4.3 and does not reach 36.1 until typically at the end of August.

Although it was an unusually early powerful hurricane, WRI did create a tropical low well in advance to Hurricane Beryl’s development and issued tropical alerts to clients in its path so they can take appropriate action days in advance. The Atlantic tropical season will continue to remain active. Please contact us if you wish to receive our daily tropical summaries and alerts for the rest of the season.

Satellite image of Hurricane Beryl when the system reached Category 5 status.