The Jamaica Meteorological Service is advising citizens to take the necessary precautions as hazy conditions, brought on by a thick plume of Saharan dust, completely shroud the island and much of the Caribbean.

The Met Service, in its 5:00 am forecast, indicated that in addition to the Saharan dust cloud a low-level jet stream serves as a major weather influence at this time, bringing with it a mix of cloudy and windy conditions.

Satellite imagery tracking the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) today (July 13), notes the dry dust cloud stretching as far west as Cuba, with only a tropical wave over Puerto Rico denting its uninterrupted spread.

Further east, another thick plume is days away from blanketing the region.

Haze advisories have been issued by respective agencies in Haiti, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

For its part, the Jamaica Met Service is anticipating maximum temperatures to reach a balmy 35 degrees Celcius in Kingston and 34 degrees in Montego Bay.

Breakdown of towns and cities forecast: 

A small craft warning for inshore and offshore areas of the south coast remains in effect. Fisherfolk and marine interests should exercise caution due to strong winds and rough seas.

See Met Service’s three-day outlook:

Thursday/Friday: Isolated showers across eastern parishes. Isolated afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms mainly across sections of central and western parishes.
Saturday: Afternoon showers and isolated thunderstorms mainly across sections of northern and southwestern parishes.