Severe Weather Alert issued for Jamaica

The Meteorological Service has issued a Severe Weather Alert for Jamaica, effective until 6 a.m. Wednesday, while warning that tropical storm conditions could pose a possible threat to the island later this week.

It says a tropical wave over the central Caribbean Sea has developed into a broad area of low pressure, and has becomes better organised while moving closer to the island.

The Met Service says this system has the potential to develop into a tropical cyclone near Jamaica.

Satellite, radar, and surface observations indicate that the broad area of low pressure over the central Caribbean Sea continues to become better defined, with winds near 72 kilometres per hour, though it still lacks a well-defined centre.

The Met Service notes that environmental conditions are forecast to become more conducive for development, and a tropical storm is expected to form later today while the system moves slowly over the central Caribbean Sea.

It adds that when the system is in the vicinity of Jamaica, it is expected to produce heavy rainfall and strong, gusty winds locally, primarily over eastern and southern parishes late Wednesday and Thursday. The rainfall could continue into the weekend.

For the marine areas, the forecast is for widespread showers and thunderstorms, which may be heavy at times, with strong gusty winds to affect all marine zones on Wednesday and Thursday, especially inshore and offshore the south coast. Fishers on the cays and banks are further urged to complete their preparations and be on the alert

to evacuate.

The Meteorological Service says it continues to closely monitor the progress of this area of low pressure, and all interests are encouraged to pay special attention to further releases.

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