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.