Go-Jamaica Weather Watch

Hurricane Bill is now a category four storm and even more strengthening is forecasted to occur within the next 24 hours.
According to a release from the Meteorological Service, at 4 a.m. the centre of Hurricane Bill was located near latitude 18.0 degrees north and longitude 54.9 degrees west or about 740 kilometres east of the Leeward Islands.

Hurricane Bill is moving toward the west-northwest near 26 km/h. a gradual turn toward the northwest is expected during the next 24 to 48 hours. On this track, the core of Bill will be passing well to the northeast of the northern Leeward Islands late today and early Thursday.

Maximum sustained winds are now near 215 km/h, with higher gusts. Bill is a category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. Strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

The Meteorological Service says Hurricane Bill is not a threat to Jamaica and it will continue to monitor the progress of this system.

The National Meteorological Service has extended the flash flood warning for St Ann, St. Mary, Portland and St Thomas until 5 p.m. this afternoon.

A flash flood warning means that flooding has been reported or will occur shortly.

Motorists and pedestrians should not attempt to cross flooded roadways or other low-lying areas as strong currents are likely.

Residents in low-lying areas should also be on the alert for fast rising waters and be ready to move quickly to higher ground.

The Met Office said the current weather condition is due to a persistent trough across the central Caribbean, which is likely to persist for the next few days.

Fishers and other marine interests are being advised to exercise caution as gusty winds and rough seas may be encountered in the vicinity of showers mainly north of the island.

Duty Forecaster at the National Meteorological Service, Peter Fearon said scattered showers are likely to continue into this afternoon.

Mr. Fearon said the showers are the result of a weather system now affecting the country:

He said the system now affecting the island is likely to dissipate tomorrow.

Duty Forecaster at the National Meteorological Service, Peter Fearon said scattered showers are likely to continue into this afternoon.

Mr. Fearon said the showers are the result of a weather system now affecting the country:

He said the system now affecting the island is likely to dissipate tomorrow.

The island remains under a Flash Flood warning until 5 p.m. today.

At 10 a.m. the centre of hurricane Paloma which is now a Category one storm was located about 390 kilometers west of Montego Bay and moving at 11 kilometres per hour with maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour.

The National Meteorological Service said Paloma is expected to become a category two hurricane later today.

It says the centre of Paloma will pass near the Cayman Islands later today or early tomorrow if it continues on the forecast track.
 
The island is expected to experience scattered showers and thunderstorms especially in central and western parishes.

The Met Office said Hurricane Paloma is not a direct threat to Jamaica at this time.

24-Hours Forecast      
This afternoon…Mostly cloudy with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms.  
Tonight… Mostly cloudy with isolated showers.     
Tomorrow…Mostly cloudy day with periods of showers and isolated thunderstorms mainly across southern and western parishes.     
      
This Afternoon Forecast     
KINGSTON:           Mostly cloudy/thunderstorms     
MORANT BAY:       Mostly cloudy/thunderstorms     
PORT ANTONIO:    Showers     
PORT MARIA:         Showers     
OCHO RIOS:           Showers     
ST. ANN’S BAY:       Cloudy/thunderstorms     
FALMOUTH:            Cloudy/thunderstorms     
MONTEGO BAY:       Thunderstorms     
LUCEA:                    Thunderstorms     
NEGRIL:                   Thunderstorms     
SAVANNA-LA-MAR:Showers     
BLACK RIVER:           Showers     
MANDEVILLE:           Mostly cloudy/thunderstorms     
MAY PEN:                 Showers     
SPANISH TOWN:       Mostly cloudy     
PORTMORE:               Showers     
      
3-Days Forecast (after tomorrow)     
     
Sat/Sun… Cloudy and windy days with periods of showers and thunderstorms across most places.
    
Mon…Mostly cloudy and windy day with scattered showers and thunderstorms  
      
   
The Low Pressure area is now Tropical Storm Paloma and is moving NNW. It is expcted to pass     
west of Jamaica over the weekend and should bring increased shower and thunderstorm activity over most places.

The Meteorological Service has continued the Flash Flood Warning for all parishes until 5.00 p.m. today.
 
A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding has been reported or will occur shortly.
 
At 4.00 a.m. the centre of Tropical Storm Paloma was located near latitude 15.1 degrees North and longitude 82.2 degrees West.  This is about 110 kilometres east of Cabo Gracias A Dios, on the Nicaragua/ Honduras border.
 
Paloma is moving towards the north-northwest near 11 km/h. This general motion is expected to continue through tonight and a gradual turn towards the north is expected on Friday.
 
This morning RADAR reported light to moderate and heavy to very heavy showers and thunderstorms mainly over southern parishes including, St. Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon and St Catherine. The forecast is for frequent showers and scattered thunderstorms to continue affecting the island today through to Sunday, as Tropical Storm Paloma intensifies northwest of Jamaica. Flash flooding, is therefore expected, over low-lying and flood prone areas.
 
Fishers and other marine interests are advised to exercise caution as gusty winds and rough seas may be encountered in the vicinity of showers and thunderstorms north and south of the island.

The Meteorological Service has upgraded the Flash Flood Watch to a Flash Flood Warning for low-lying and flood-prone areas of central and western parishes (St. Ann, Trelawny, St. James, Hanover, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, Manchester and Clarendon) while a Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for eastern parishes.  Both the Warning and the Watch remains in effect until 5.00 a.m. tomorrow.
 
A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding has been reported or will occur shortly. Motorists and pedestrians should not attempt to cross flooded roadways or other low-lying areas as strong currents are likely.  Residents in low-lying areas should be on the alert for fast rising waters and be ready to move quickly to higher ground. A Flash flood Watch means that flash flooding is possible.
 
A persistent Surface Trough remains across Jamaica and is associated with an Area of Low Pressure in the southwestern Caribbean Sea. Throughout the day, RADAR reports indicated light to moderate showers affecting all parishes, with heavier showers and thunderstorms affecting western parishes.
 
The forecast is for tonight to be mostly cloudy with isolated showers and thunderstorms and for tomorrow to be another mostly cloudy day with periods of showers and thunderstorms across most parishes. These unstable weather conditions are expected to persist across Jamaica until Thursday.
 
Fishers and other marine interests should exercise caution as gusty winds and rough seas may be encountered in the vicinity of showers and thunderstorms especially south of the island.

The Meteorological Service has extended the Flash Flood Watch for low-lying and flood-prone areas of all parishes until 5 p.m.
 
A flash flood watch means flash flooding is possible and residents are advised to take precautionary measures.

The Meteorological Service says residents should be ready for quick action if flooding is observed or if a flash flood warning is issued.

A surface trough across the western Caribbean has been influencing the weather conditions.
The Met Service said the system has now deepened as it spreads across the central Caribbean basin. 

As a result, it is expected that periods of showers will continue today.
 
Last night, Jamaica experienced cloudy conditions with light to moderate and sometimes heavy showers mainly over southern and central parishes.
 
It’s forecast that there will be scattered showers and thunderstorms to across most parishes today.

The Meteorological Service has extended the Flash Flood Watch to low-lying and flood-prone areas of all parishes until 5.00 p.m. today.
 
A Flash Flood Watch means that flash flooding is possible and residents are advised to take precautionary measures, keep informed by listening to further releases from the Meteorological Service and be ready for quick action if flooding is observed or if a Warning is issued.
 
A Surface Trough associated with an area of Low Pressure across the southwestern Caribbean continues to influence weather conditions across the island.
 
As a result, cloudy conditions with scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue across Jamaica through the early part of this week.
 
Throughout last night, the island experienced cloudy conditions with light to moderate showers mainly over eastern parishes.
 
The forecast is for scattered showers and thunderstorms to start affecting southern parishes this morning and further spread to remaining parishes during the afternoon. Flash flooding is therefore likely over low-lying and flood prone areas.
 
Fishers and other marine interests should exercise caution as gusty winds and rough seas may be encountered in the vicinity of showers and thunderstorms north and south of the island.
 
The Meteorological Service will continue to monitor the situation.