NEWS RELEASE

Friday, October 13, 2017 at 5:00 a.m.

*** OPHELIA MOVING FASTER TOWARD THE EAST-NORTHEAST... ***

At 4:00 a.m. the center of Hurricane Ophelia was located near latitude 31.1 North, longitude 33.9 West. Ophelia is moving toward the east-northeast near 13 km/h, and this motion with an increase in forward speed is expected through Saturday. A turn toward the northeast with an additional increase in forward speed is expected Saturday night. On the forecast track, the center of Ophelia will pass near or to the southeast of the southeastern Azores Saturday and Saturday night.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 165 km/h with higher gusts. Only slight weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours.

Hurricane Ophelia is not a threat to Jamaica.

The Meteorological Service will continue to monitor this system.

JKH