HOLT, Fla., July 5, 2018–The 2018 hurricane season’s second tropical storm has formed in the Atlantic Ocean.

The National Hurricane Center determined Tropical Storm Beryl had developed a well-defined 5-nautical-mile-wide eye with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph.

A tiny tropical storm, Beryl’s tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center.

Additional strengthening is forecast and Beryl could become a hurricane by Friday or Saturday, according to the NHC.

Beryl is moving toward the west near 16 mph and a fast west-to-west-northwest motion is expected through the weekend.

The center of Beryl is expected to remain east of the Lesser Antilles through Sunday.

After that time, increasing westerly wind shear, partially due to Beryl accelerating toward the west, is expected to cause weakening.

Beryl is forecast to degenerate into an up into a tropical wave in 72-96 hours just east of the Lesser Antilles during the weekend.

National Hurricane Center forecast