Updated: Flash Flood Warning Still in Effect

KINGSTON — The National Meteorological Service has issued a Flash Flood warning for low-lying and flood prone areas of Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Mary, Portland, St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester and St. Elizabeth.

The Met Service also stated that a Flash Flood Watch is still in effect for all other parishes, until at least 5 a.m. tomorrow, as heavy rains continue to pelt areas across the island.

The Met Service said that the cause of the rains and the flooding is an Area of Low Pressure which has remained almost stationary over the past 24 hours. This area of disturbed weather is expected to persist across the Central Caribbean, south-west of Jamaica, until Tuesday and will continue to influence the weather during the period.

The forecast was for periods of showers and thunderstorms, which will be heavy at times, to continue to affect most parishes into early this week. Fishermen and other marine interests were advised to exercise extreme caution, as strong winds and rough seas were predicted.

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in a release Sunday said it has received reports from the Police of a suspected drowning at the Bob Marley Beach, Nine Miles Bull Bay, St. Andrew. It said that two men in a fishing boat were trapped by flood waters. One was rescued and taken to the hospital, but the other is suspected to have drowned.

In other releases Sunday evening, ODPEM said that after consultations with the Ministry of Education, it was advising that all schools scheduled for Monday, June 6, should go ahead, unless it is deemed unsafe for the students and staff to venture. Parental discretion was advised.

ODPEM also advised the public to refrain from conducting activities in any of the waterways, namely rivers, gullies and drains. The public was also advised to continue monitoring the radio for further advisories, and to avoid areas that are at risk from flooding and landslides.
                                                           

By Balford Henry, JIS Reporter & Editor