A TROPICAL STORM WATCH remains in effect for Jamaica as the developing area of low pressure over the west-central Caribbean Sea moves closer to the island. This means that tropical storm conditions pose a possible threat to Jamaica within 48 hours.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING is in effect for low-lying and flood-prone areas of southern and eastern parishes, including Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon, St Catherine, Kingston, St Andrew, St Thomas, Portland and St Mary.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH remains in effect for other low-lying and flood-prone areas of the island.

At 10:00 p.m. Potential Tropical Cyclone Number 22 was centred near latitude 15.9 degrees North, longitude 81.1 degrees West. This is about 400 kilometres (250 miles) southwest of Negril Point or 515 kilometres (320 miles) west-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica.

The system is moving towards the north-northeast near 13 km/h (8 mph), and a northeastward motion is expected to begin early Friday, with increasing forward speed through the weekend. On the forecast track, the centre of the system is expected to move across Jamaica on Friday, and towards southeastern Cuba and the Turks and Caicos Islands on Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 55 km/h (35 mph), with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days, and the disturbance is expected to become a tropical storm on Friday.

While the potential tropical cyclone is in the vicinity of Jamaica, it is expected to produce 200-300 millimetres (7-12 inches) of locally heavy rainfall, and strong, gusty winds, across the island, tonight
and tomorrow. Flooding will spread over southern and eastern parishes during the next 12-24 hours and landslides should be expected in vulnerable sections of the island.

All small craft operators including fishers from the cays and banks should be arriving in port to start preparations for safe harbour, as strong winds are expected to be out of the east tonight and reach near
tropical storm force tomorrow morning.

The Meteorological Service continues to monitor the progress of this system, and all interests are encouraged to pay special attention to further Releases. The next Bulletin on this system will be issued at 5:00 a.m.
tomorrow.