Flash flood watch further extended for 10 parishes- Met Service

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica has extended the flash flood watch for low-lying and flood-prone areas of southern and north-western parishes until 12pm on Thursday.

The affected parishes are St Thomas, Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, and St James.

Flooding was reported in sections of Manchester, including Mandeville and Alligator Pond, as well as St Elizabeth on Wednesday afternoon.

The Met Service, in a release on Wednesday night, said recently upgraded Hurricane Helene is now moving northward near 19 km/h towards the Gulf of Mexico.

The hurricane's "outer bands are expected to continue producing unstable weather across Jamaica into Thursday morning," the Met Service said.

The centre of Hurricane Helene was located near latitude 22.5 degrees north, longitude 86.6 degrees west, which is about 982 km northwest of Negril Point, Jamaica. 

The Met Service said a northward or north-northeastward motion at a faster forward speed is expected during the next 36 hours. 

"On the forecast track, Helene will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico tonight and Thursday, and cross the Florida Big Bend coast Thursday evening. After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley (in the United States) on Friday and Saturday," the Met Service informed. 

In relation to Jamaica, the Met Service said observational data indicates that moderate to heavy showers and thunderstorms have been affecting sections of southern and northwestern parishes since Sunday. 

The current forecast is for periods of showers and thunderstorms to continue affecting mainly southern parishes through to Thursday morning. 

A flash flood means that flash flooding is possible, and residents are advised to take precautionary measures, keep informed by listening to further releases from the Met Service and be ready for quick action if flooding is observed or if a warning is issued. 

Fishers and other marine interests should continue to exercise caution as sea conditions will deteriorate due to thunderstorms and strong gusty winds. 

The Met Service said it will continue to monitor the system.