Hurricane hunters have found that major Hurricane Barrel has strengthened
back to a Category 4 hurricane producing maximum sustained winds
of 130 mph.
Barrel is approaching the Windward Islands and life threatening winds
and storm surge are expected to begin this morning.
Watches and warnings extend from Barbados all the way to
the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
The latest forecast shows Barrel weakening a little bit by
the end of the week.
As it moves into an area of higher wind shear,
however, it is still expected to remain a dangerous hurricane
as it approaches the Yucatan Peninsula by Friday.
Latest computer models have BARREL potentially moving into the Gulf
of Mexico this weekend,
but it is too early to know if barrel will
impact the US at this time.