The Jamaica Meteorological Service says the tropical storm warning activated for the island remains in force as Tropical Storm Grace buffeted sections of the country on Tuesday (August 17).

The Met Service, in its 11:00 am bulletin published two hours later, urged Jamaicans to brace for further widespread rainfall and flash flooding islandwide.

“Weather conditions over Jamaica, especially over eastern and central parishes, continue to be impacted by the heavy showers and thunderstorms associated with Tropical Storm Grace. Rainfall will continue to spread across the island this morning while the tropical storm moves across northern parishes. Flash flooding will occur in low-lying and flood-prone areas today with [four to six] inches of rainfall in the forecast. Strong gusty winds will continue during the next 6-12 hours,” the agency indicated.

According to the US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC), the centre of Tropical Storm Grace was located near latitude 18.5 North, longitude 77.5 West—or roughly 40 kilometres east of Montego Bay, St James.

The system is still on its westerly track at 24 kilometres/hour and its maximum sustained winds remain unchanged at 85 kilometres/hour, with higher gusts.

The Jamaica Met Service explained that Grace is expected to reach hurricane strength on Wednesday while moving farther away from Jamaica, with some additional strengthening possible prior to the centre reaching Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 110 kilometres from the centre.

“On the forecast track, the centre of Grace will move over Jamaica’s northern parishes today, then continue towards the Cayman Islands tonight,” the Met Service said.

Jamaica found itself in the crosshairs of Grace after the massive system made a sudden turn towards the island after a full day of interaction with Hispaniola, which prompted an upgrade from a tropical storm watch to a tropical storm warning. Tropical Storm Grace made landfall just off the coast of St Mary at 10:00 am local time.

See related articles:

• Jamaica upgraded to tropical storm warning as Grace approaches, re-strengthens
• Several areas already flooded, impassable as Tropical Storm Grace makes direct hit on Jamaica