Jamaica upgraded to hurricane warning
Published:Friday | July 2, 2021 | 5:43 PM
Jamaica has been upgraded to a hurricane warning as Hurricane Elsa continues its slow strengthening while approaching the central Caribbean.
The Meteorological Service Division explained that this means that the country is expected to be impacted by 74 miles per hour or higher winds in 36 hours or less.
Further, there is also the threat of dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves, even though winds may be less than hurricane force.
At 4:00 p.m. the centre of Hurricane Elsa was located near Latitude 14.2 degrees North, Longitude 63.7 degrees West, or about 875 miles east-southeast of Morant Point, Jamaica.
This is also about 505 miles southeast of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Elsa is a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale with maximum sustained winds near 85 miles per hour, with higher gusts.
The Met office says little change in strength is forecast through Saturday but slow weakening is expected to begin on Saturday night or Sunday.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds extend as far as 140 miles from the centre.
Elsa is moving quickly towards the west near 30 miles per hour and this general motion is expected to continue through Saturday.
A west-northwestward motion with a decrease in forward speed is expected on Saturday night and Sunday.
On its forecast track, the centre of Hurricane Elsa will continue to move over the eastern Caribbean today and through the central Caribbean, south of Hispaniola, on Saturday before passing just east and north of Jamaica on Sunday morning.
Heavy showers and thunderstorms, along with winds reaching tropical-storm force, could begin to impact eastern sections of Jamaica as early as Saturday night.
Dangerous sea conditions associated with the hurricane are expected to spread across the Caribbean over the next 24-36 hours.
Small craft operators, including fishers from the cays and banks, should by now have completed all the necessary safety precautions and are advised to remain in safe harbour until all warning messages have been lifted and sea conditions have returned to normal.
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