Jamaica under severe weather alert
Published:Wednesday | September 28, 2016 | 12:00 AM
The Meteorological Service has issued a severe weather alert for Jamaica as it prepares for the possible impact of Tropical Storm Matthew.
The Met Service says the alert will remain in effect until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow.
According to the Met Service, Tropical Storm Matthew could become a hurricane by Friday and so fishers on the cays and banks are advised to begin preparations with a
view to evacuating, should it become necessary.
Tropical Storm Matthew formed near the eastern Caribbean this morning .
At 10:00 a.m. the centre was located near latitude 13.4 degrees north, longitude 60.7 degrees west or 55 km southeast St. Lucia.
Tropical Storm Matthew is moving towards the west near 33 kilometres per hour and a westward motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected during the next couple of days.
The Met Office says on the forecast track, the centre of Tropical Storm Matthew will move through the Windward Islands during the next couple of hours, and move over the southern and central Caribbean Sea on Friday.
It will then move closer to Jamaica and pose a direct threat to the island.
Tropical Storm Matthew has maximum sustained winds near 95 kilometres per hour with higher gusts and is forecast to gradually strengthen during the next couple of days.