Jamaica upgraded from hurricane watch to hurricane warning

The Met office has moved Jamaica from a hurricane watch to a hurricane warning, as Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to rapidly strengthen while moving closer to the island.

A hurricane warning means that within the next 36 hours or less Jamaicans should expect dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves, even though winds expected may be less than hurricane force as well as an average winds of 64 knots (119km/h) or higher.

As Melissa moves closer to the island, Jamaicans should expect strong, gusty winds reaching tropical storm force to initially affect eastern parishes later Friday evening and continuing into the weekend across the island.

Hurricane force winds are also possible from as early as Sunday.

At 7:00 p.m., the centre of Tropical Storm Melissa was located near latitude 16.2 degrees North, longitude 74.6 degrees West, which is about 360 kilometres (225 miles) southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and about 2S4 kilometres (159 miles) southeast of Morant Point, and 310 kilometres (190 miles) southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.

Tropical Storm Melissa is moving slowly toward the north near 4 km/h (2 mph) and a turn toward the west slow is forecast on Saturday and will continue through Monday.

A turn to the north and northeast is forecast on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 100 km/h (65 mph), with higher gusts.

Rapid intensification is now forecast over the next several days and Melissa is forecast to become a hurricane tomorrow and a major hurricane by Sunday.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 220 kilometres (140 miles) from the centre.

On the forecast track, the centre of Melissa is expected to move from south to north over central Jamaica early next week and over eastern Cuba by the middle of the week.

Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to be a major rainfall producer over Jamaica.

Rainfall amounts reaching 300 to 400 millimetres (12 to 16 inches) are forecast for the island over the weekend, starting in eastern parishes and gradually spreading westward across the island during the course of next week.

Locally higher amounts are possible and residents should take note.

While marine areas will see further deterioration tonight, small craft operators including fishers from the cays and banks are advised to remain in safe harbour until all warning messages have been lifted and wind and sea conditions have returned to normal.

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