Beryl makes landfall and history books

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Beryl sent six to eight foot waves crashing along the beaches of Jacksonville Florida and made landfall at 12:10 am Monday. Winds were clocked from the holiday hassle at  70 miles per hour, just four miles per hour shy of hurricane strength.  

One couple said their "I do's" just before the rain started.  A home video shows the brides veil whipping in the strong winds. 

The system knocked out power and soaked northern Florida which was in need of rain.  Red flag's warning people about strong currents were up along Florida's Daytona Beach but some decided to take on the high surf.

The coast isn't used to seeing tropical storms this early.  Beryl is the second named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which isn't officially set to begin until Friday.  May tropical storms are rare .  There have only been 17 other tropical storms before June first since 1887.  

A colorful sign arched the sky in parts of Georgia before it brought heavy wind and rain.  

Beryl is expected to move back into the Atlantic producing heavy surf and rainfall near the Carolinas.  This early start on the Atlantic hurricane season doesn't mean we're in for a record breaking season.  The official NOAA forecast suggests a near-normal season with 12 named storms six of which may be hurricanes. 

Beryl's early landfall has hopefully reminded everyone to be prepared and heed the warnings no matter what the calendar says. 

The Atlantic Hurricane season runs from June first to November 30th and peaks in early September.  While sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic are near normal one competing climate factor is el Nino.   If it develops by late summer the number of storms may not be as high as first predicted.