Severe weather forecast for Jamaica

Weather forecasters are predicting widespread showers and thunderstorms with occasional gusty winds to affect the entire island with central and eastern parishes to be impacted the most.

According to the island’s Meteorological Service, the country will begin to see an increase in showers starting tomorrow through to Saturday due to a trough currently located in the south western Caribbean Sea which will likely move north westward across the island Thursday and Friday.

Showers and thunderstorms associated with a Trough over the southwestern Caribbean Sea is expected to move northeastward across on Thursday and Friday.@megjc_jm @odp pic.twitter.com/SveoLIhtrk

— MetServiceJA (@MetserviceJA) November 14, 2023

“This area of disturbance has some potential for development in the next few days and is expected to bring unstable weather conditions to Jamaica,” the Met Service stated in its latest bulletin issued 5:00 pm Tuesday.

This broad area of low pressure “has a medium chance of becoming a tropical depression late this week,” noted the US-based National Hurricane Center.

Despite a very active hurricane season, the tropical system being monitored at the moment has the potential to “bring the heaviest rain of the hurricane season” contends Brian Shields on his Mr Weatherman channel on YouTube.

Persons living or likely to be in flood prone areas are being urged to take all the necessary precautions from now as the potential for flooding is a strong possibility.

pic.twitter.com/EOkQaiDHt8

— ODPEM (@odpem) November 15, 2023

The country’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has since issued an advisory, telling natives on the island to be ready for what’s to come and avoid taking risks.

“The ODPEM is reminding the public that we are still in the hurricane season and persons should take the necessary safety precautions as issued by the ODEPM, meteorological Service of Jamaica and other authorities,” stated the country’s primary disaster management agency.

Both the Met Service and the ODPEM will continue to monitor the system and provide updates accordingly.