CMC – Residents in Jamaica and the Cayman islands were on Friday urged to monitor the passage of a tropical depression that is expected to pass through the central Caribbean Sea and affect the two islands over the weekend.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said Tropical Depression Nine is expected to strengthen over the Caribbean Sea and was located 515 miles, east south east of the Jamaican capital, Kingston with maximum sustained winds of 35 miles per hour (mph).
The NHC said that while there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, “interests in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands should closely monitor the progress of this system” that is moving towards the west-northwest near 14 mph.
“A westward motion is expected to begin later today and continue through Saturday, followed by a turn toward the west-northwest and northwest on Sunday and Monday. On the forecast track, the centre of the cyclone is forecast to move across the central Caribbean Sea through Saturday, pass south of Jamaica on Saturday night and Sunday, and approach the Cayman Islands on Sunday night and early Monday.”
The NHC said that there would be slow strengthening of the depression “during the next day or so, and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm by tonight”.
Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Northern Venezuela and Northern Colombia and up to four inches in southern Haiti and southern Dominican Republic.
Jamaica and the Cayman Islands can expect rainfall of up to eight inches that may produce flash flooding and mudslides in areas of higher terrain.
“Swells generated by this system will begin affecting Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Cuba over the next several days. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” NHC added.
The passage of the depression comes as residents in several Caribbean countries, including Puerto Rico, the Dominica Republic, Bermuda and the Turks and Caicos Islands are recovering from the passage of Hurricane Fiona that swept through the region as a Category 4 storm leaving a trail of death and damage.
The 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which began in June, ends in November.
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