Hurricane warning for Jamaica

The Meteorological Service upgraded the tropical storm warning and hurricane watch this morning after reconnaissance aircraft detected hurricane force winds just east of the centre of Tropical Storm Gustav.



A Hurricane Warning means that the following dangerous effects of a hurricane are expected to affect the island in 24 hours or less.



There will be dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves.



An average winds of 118 kilometres or 75 miles per hour or higher.



At 4.00 a.m. the centre of Tropical Storm Gustav was located near latitude 17.8 degrees North and longitude 75.6 degrees West; about 50 kilometres or 30 miles east of Morant Point, Jamaica, or 270 kilometres or 170 miles south of Guantanamo, Cuba.



Duty Forecaster Peter Fearon said Gustav is now moving towards the southwest at about 13 kilometres or 8 miles per hour and a turn to the west is likely today.



He said Maximum sustained winds have increased slightly to 85 kilometres or 50 miles per hour with higher gusts, and additional strengthening is forecast during the next day or two.



Tropical storm force winds extend up to 85 kilometres or 50 miles from the centre.



After a reconnaissance flight this morning, the forecast track of Tropical Storm Gustav was revised south of Jamaica.



This means that the centre of the storm is now projected to begin passing along the coast of southern parishes this morning and continuing through the day.



The rainfall associated with the system is just beginning to impact eastern parishes and is expected to spread across the country today.



Gusty winds are also being experienced in the east, and will increase in strength, while spreading to the west, this morning.



Projections for hurricane surges have now been shifted to southern coastal areas, estimated to reach 1 to 2 metres above normal tide levels.