TROPICAL DEPRESSION #16 DEVELOPS

TROPICAL DEPRESSION #16 DEVELOPS …



The sixteenth Tropical Depression of the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season developed last night over the central Caribbean Sea and is likely to affect the weather over Jamaica within the next 24 hours.



At 4:00 a.m., the centre of Tropical Depression Number 16 was located near latitude 16.2 degrees North, longitude 72.1 degrees West, or about 270 kilometers (165 miles) south of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, or 477 kilometers (298

miles) east-southeast of Morant Point, Jamaica.



The Tropical Depression is moving towards the west-northwest at about 11 km/h (7 mph) and this general motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours.



Maximum sustained winds are near 55 km/h (35 mph) and some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours. It is likely that the depression could become a tropical storm later today.



Tropical Depression 16 is currently forecast to pass over the waters between the western Haitian Peninsula and Jamaica late tonight or early Monday morning before continuing north of Jamaica towards central Cuba later in the day. It is, however, expected to produce an increase in rainfall over Jamaica today as well as gusty winds and above-normal waves, especially along the eastern and

northern coastline.



Fishers and small craft operators should pay special attention to subsequent News Releases and are urged not to venture far from the mainland as sea conditions are expected to deteriorate today in showers, thunderstorms

and strong winds.



The Meteorological Service will continue to monitor the situation and a Tropical Storm Watch could be issued for Jamaica later this morning. The next Bulletin will be issued at 8:00 a.m.