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Jamaica, like the rest of the Caribbean, is now at the mid-point of the hurricane season, a time when high winds and sustained rainfall can cause severe damage to communities, and negatively impact the economies of affected countries. In many cases, hillside communities suffer from landslides which, aside from dislocating residents, sometimes lead to death, and the recovery period always...

At 4:00 a.m. the centre of Tropical Storm Isaac was located near Latitude 15.3 degrees north and Longitude 64.0 degrees west. Isaac is moving towards the west at 19 km/h and some erratic movement toward the west-northwest to northwest could occur this morning. A steady motion toward the west-northwest is expected to begin by this afternoon or tonight and continue...

As the hurricane season enters the peak period, Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Ronald Jackson, is urging Jamaicans to intensify their preparedness activities.      On Tuesday (August 21) the ninth Tropical Depression (TD) of the season was formed east of the Lesser Antilles, and is projected to move through the southern Leeward Islands and...

At 4:00 a.m. the centre of Tropical Storm was located near Latitude 15.5 degrees north and Longitude 57.3 degrees west or about 445 kilometres east of Guadeloupe. Isaac is moving toward the west at 30 km/h and this general motion is expected to continue for the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the centre should move through the...

At 4:00 a.m. the centre of Tropical Depression Nine was located near Latitude 15.2 degrees north and Longitude 51.2 degrees west or about 1150 kilometres east of the Leeward Islands. Ninth Depression of the Season Forms East of the Lesser Antilles The Depression is moving towards the west near 32 km/h and this general motion is expected to continue for...

At 4:00 a.m. the centre of Hurricane Gordon was located near Latitude 34.9 degrees north and Longitude 31.6 degrees west or about 950 kilometres west southwest of the Azores. Gordon is moving towards the east near 37 km/h. A turn toward the east-northeast is expected later today. On the forecast track the centre of Gordon will be near or over...

At 4:00 p.m. the centre of Tropical Storm Gordon was located near Latitude 34.2 degrees north and Longitude 52.1 degrees west or 1200 kilometres east-northeast of Bermuda. Gordon is moving toward the east northeast near 28 km/h. This general motion is expected to continue tonight. A gradual turn toward east is expected on Friday. On the forecast track Gordon should...

At 4:00 a.m. the centre of Tropical Storm Gordon was located near Latitude 32.2 degrees north and Longitude 54.8 degrees west or 940 kilometres east of Bermuda. Gordon is moving toward the north northeast near 22 km/h. A gradual turn toward the northeast and then toward the east is forecast. This track will keep the cyclone moving over the open...

A strong Tropical Wave is currently moving across Jamaica. Associated with this Wave is a large area of showers and thunderstorms, which are forecast to move onshore and affect eastern parishes’ first, then central and western parishes through the course of this afternoon into tonight. These showers, which may be heavy at times, are likely to be accompanied by strong,...

At 4:00 a.m. the centre of Tropical Depression Seven was located near Latitude 13.6 degrees north and Longitude 47.2 degrees west or about 1,495 kilometres east of the Windward Islands. The Depression is moving towards the west near 32 km/h. This general motion is expected to continue for the next 48 hours. [Tips: Hurricane Checklist] Maximum sustained winds remain near...

A strong Tropical Wave is currently influencing weather conditions across Jamaica. Showers and thunderstorms, as well as strong gusty winds, are forecast to continue to affect eastern parishes and gradually spread to central and western parishes through tonight.   THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED Fishers and other marine interests are advised to exercise caution due to deteriorating weather conditions in the vicinity of...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has strengthened its air quality management programme and its capacity to assess air quality parameters within the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA). The agency has established two new ambient air quality monitoring sites in Washington Gardens, St. Andrew and Waterford in Portmore, bringing to five, the number of such sites in the Corporate Area...