This means that hurricane conditions are possible for the island within the next 48 hours.

Principal Director, Meteorological Service Branch, Evan Thompson, said Hurricane Beryl, which is a category 4 system, will continue to move towards the west-northwest as it courses through the Caribbean.

“That motion is expected to continue during the course of today (Monday)… going through tomorrow. The system should move into the central Caribbean by then and then start moving closer and closer to Jamaica,” he said.

Mr. Thompson was speaking during a meeting of the National Disaster Risk Management Council (NDRMC) at the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development in Kingston on Monday (July 1).

He said it is expected that, on moving into the central Caribbean, the system’s intensity may somewhat reduce.

Mr. Thompson noted, however, that by the time it passes Jamaica, it is still likely to be a hurricane and possibly a major cyclone.

The island is likely to experience a significant increase in rainfall starting early on Wednesday. That will be accompanied by storm surges and flooding, mainly along the southern coastline.

“If this [cyclone] really continues on the path that is currently being projected, strong winds are expected to reach possible hurricane force or at least tropical storm force, as the system moves closer to the island,” Mr. Thompson said.