The Jamaica Meteorological Service, on Thursday (July 1), has activated a ‘severe weather alert’ for the island ahead of turbulent conditions expected from an approaching tropical wave. 

The Met Service, in its release to the media, said that the alert would be effective until 5:00 am on Friday.

The weakened tropical wave was identified as the reason for the alert, however, with the gradual intensification of Tropical Storm Elsa, Our Today was informed that the Met Service is continuing to monitor the situation and would update the general public accordingly. 

“Initially, a weak tropical wave will increase the chance of showers to the island on Friday afternoon. Also, an area of low pressure associated with a strong tropical wave across the Atlantic has developed into Tropical Storm Elsa,” the agency advised.

Additionally, the Jamaica Met Service is anticipating TS Elsa’s outermost bands to start affecting the island’s eastern and southern coast by Sunday morning. 

The forecast sees widespread showers and thunderstorms, which could be heavy at times, to affect Jamaica beginning late on Saturday evening into early Sunday morning. 

According to the Met Service, activity is expected to start over eastern parishes and gradually spread to the island’s entirety.

“Rainfall projections are in excess of 50 mm across the island, with ranges of 75-100 mm in northern and southeastern parishes Sunday through to Monday. Strong winds reaching near tropical-storm-force are also expected to start developing over Jamaica late Saturday evening into Sunday,” the Met Service continued.

As at 2:00 pm Atlantic Standard Time (AST), Tropical Storm Elsa, the fastest fifth-named storm since hurricane records began, was located at latitude 10.6 North, longitude 52.6 West—or roughly 965 kilometres east-southeast of the Windward Islands.

The system is moving west-northwest at 44 kilometres/hour and packs maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometres/hour, with higher gusts. 

The tropical storm warnings for Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines as well as St Lucia remain in effect. 

The tropical storm watch for Grenada also stands, however, it has been lifted in Guadeloupe. 

See related articles below:

• Tropical Storm Elsa forms in the mid-Atlantic, warnings issued for parts of Eastern Caribbean
• A bleak, wet weekend for Jamaica
• TS Elsa marginally strengthens, could reach hurricane-force winds tonight