Go-Jamaica Weather Watch

From the Met Service ….

*** HURRICANE WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FOR JAMAICA* * *

A Hurricane Watch is now in effect for Jamaica as Hurricane Dean, the first Hurricane of the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season, continues to move towards the island. This means that hurricane conditions pose a possible threat within 36 hours.

At 4:00 p.m. the centre of Hurricane Dean was located near Latitude 15.0 degrees North, Longitude 64.5 degrees West. This is about 415 kilometres (260 miles) south-south east of Puerto Rico or close to 1290 kilometres (805 miles) east-southeast of Morant Point, Jamaica.

Dean is moving towards the west near 33 km/h (21 mph) and this general motion is expected to continue with a slight decrease in forward speed during the next 24 hours.

Maximum sustained winds are near 205 km/h (125 mph), with higher gusts, making Dean a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale, and further strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward approximately 45 kilometres (30 miles), while tropical storm force winds extend as far as 295 kilometres (185 miles) from the centre.

Forecast models continue to project the eye of the hurricane south of Puerto Rico tonight, and over the warm waters of the central Caribbean Sea south of Hispaniola on Saturday before moving over Jamaica on Sunday morning. Should this occur, it is expected that the island would begin to experience an increase in showers and gusty winds associated with the hurricane by Saturday evening.

Fishers on the cays and banks are again strongly advised to evacuate immediately with a view to returning to the mainland by tonight. Other small craft operators in our coastal waters are advised to return to port and those in port should not venture out.

The Meteorological Service will continue to monitor the progress of this system. All interests, especially fishers and other marine operators, should pay special attention to subsequent Releases.

The next Bulletin on Hurricane Dean will be issued at 8:00 p.m.