Storm Watch: ‘Shelter’ schools to close half day today

This, the ministry said in a memorandum to all schools, is necessary to facilitate an audit of all shelters in anticipation of the storm’s passage in the vicinity of Jamaica.

As at 5:00 am today the Met Service of Jamaica said the slow-moving cyclone is now more organized and has been upgraded to Tropical Depression #9.

Said the Met Service: “Tropical Depression #9 has been formed over the Central Caribbean Sea and is expected to continue its slow strengthening over the next couple of days while moving closer to Jamaica. A severe weather alert, therefore, remains in effect for the island.

“On the current forecast track, Tropical Depression #9 will move over the waters south of Hispaniola on Saturday and move closer to Jamaica’s southwestern coastline as a tropical storm on Sunday as it approaches the Cayman Islands.

“Jamaica and its territorial waters should begin to feel impacts of the tropical depression as early as midday on Saturday with an increase in showers and gusty winds.”

A total of 62 shelters are listed in St Catherine, the overwhelming majority being schools. Some of these institutions are Old Harbour High, St Catherine High, Kensington Primary, Ascot Primary, Innswood High, Jose Marti Technical, Tacius Golding High, St John’s Primary, Horizon Park Primary, Homestead Primary, Browns Hall Primary, Spanish Town Primary, and GC Foster College.