NEWS RELEASE
Saturday, October 27, 2018 at 5:00 a.m.
***… OSCAR STRENGTHENS AS ITS CENTRAL PRESSURE DROPS... ***
Subtropical Storm Oscar formed over the Central Atlantic last night approximately 11 p.m. and the centre was located near latitude 26.7 degrees North, 45.7 degrees West or 1945 km east southeast of Bermuda. Satellite wind data indicated that Oscar had maximum sustained winds near 75km/h.
At 4:00 a.m. the centre of Subtropical Storm Oscar was located near latitude 27.3 degrees North, longitude 47.0 degrees West or 1800 km east-southeast of Bermuda. Oscar is moving toward the west-northwest near 19 km/h. A westward to west-southwestward motion with an increase in forward speed is expected today and tonight, followed by a reduction in speed on Sunday. A turn toward the north-northwest is forecast on Monday.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 85 km/h with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast during the next several days, and Oscar is expected to make a transition to a tropical storm on Sunday. Oscar could then become a hurricane by Monday night or Tuesday.
Subtropical Storm Oscar is not a threat to Jamaica.
The Meteorological Service will continue to monitor this system
CAP