A Hurricane Warning remains in effect as Hurricane Beryl moves past Haiti and makes its way towards Jamaica.
The following dangerous effects of a hurricane are expected to reach Jamaica by tomorrow:
- Dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves, and
- Average winds of at least 119 km/h (74 mph). At 4:00 a.m. the eye of Hurricane Beryl was located near latitude 16.6 degrees North, longitude 74.4 degrees West. This is about 240 km (150 miles) east-southeast of Morant Point, or 300 km (185 miles) east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.
Beryl is moving toward the west-northwest near 31 km/h (20 mph) and this general motion should continue through today, followed by a turn more toward the west tonight or Thursday.
The eye of Hurricane Beryl is expected to continue past southwestern Haiti and move quickly towards the southeastern coast of Jamaica this morning.
On this forecast track, the centre of the hurricane is expected to be passing near or over the island’s southern coastline between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. today. Rainfall from the outer bands of Beryl have already been affecting sections of Jamaica. Rainfall associated with the core of the hurricane should, however, start to impact the eastern end of the island within the next 3-4 hours.
Strong winds, reaching near tropical storm force, are expected to reach Jamaica as early as 9:00 this morning. These will quickly increase to near hurricane strength as the centre of Beryl remains close to the island throughout the day. Dangerous storm surges raising water levels by as much as 2-3 metres (6-9 feet) and battering waves, will also be generated along coastal areas of the island.