Beryl downgraded to tropical depression

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MIAMI, May 28 (UPI) -- Beryl, downgraded from a tropical storm to a tropical depression Monday, caused the cancellation of Memorial Day activities in Jacksonville, Fla.

A Memorial Day event at Veteran's Cemetery in St. Augustine, Fla., was also canceled, bus routes to Jacksonville area beaches were suspended and about 21,000 customers in Jacksonville were without power, CNN reported.

In its 11 p.m. EDT update Monday, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Beryl was centered about 165 miles west-southwest of Savannah, Ga., and about 60 miles east-northeast of Tallahassee, Fla. Maximum sustained winds were 30 mph and the storm was traveling northwest at 5 mph.

No coastal watches or warnings were in effect.

Beryl was expected to turn to the east-northeast and gradually pick up speed Tuesday, on a track that should take it over southern portions of Georgia and the Carolinas during the next 48 hours -- before moving over the western Atlantic and passing near the southeast coast of North Carolina and gaining some intensity Wednesday.

The depression is expected to produce 4-8 inches of rainfall from northern Florida to southeastern North Carolina, with accumulations of 12 inches possible in some places.

The Jacksonville Aviation Authority said Sunday night all airlines, except JetBlue and Delta, canceled the day's remaining incoming and outgoing flights, CNN reported.

Beryl knocked out power in parts of southeastern Georgia, CNN said.

The depression curtailed weekend plans for campers and day-trippers at Georgia's Cumberland Island National Seashore, where they were ordered to evacuate, the National Parks Service said.

Dangerous surf conditions, including rip currents, were predicted from northeastern Florida to North Carolina for the rest of the Memorial Day weekend.