The Meteorological Service has:

• Discontinued the Flash Flood Watch for low-lying and flood-prone areas for all parishes effective immediately.

The significant feature is a Trough across Jamaica, which was induced by Hurricane Melissa. The hurricane is projected to move farther away from the island, crossing the southeastern or central Bahamas this evening, and is forecast to pass near or to the west of Bermuda late Thursday.

Observations over the past several hours indicate that only isolated light to moderate showers affected the island on Wednesday.

Partly cloudy conditions are forecast to persist through Thursday morning, with isolated showers expected across northern parishes and widely scattered afternoon showers occurring across sections of western parishes and hilly areas, otherwise remaining mostly cloudy.

Meanwhile,

*** ...MELISSA STARTING TO ACCELERATE NORTHEASTWARD OVER THE BAHAMAS...
...DAMAGING WINDS, FLOODING RAINS, AND A DANGEROUS STORM
SURGE CONTINUING IN THE BAHAMAS THROUGH TONIGHT... ***

At 4:00 p.m., the center of Hurricane Melissa was located near latitude 22.9 North, longitude 74.8 West. Melissa is moving toward the northeast near 26 km/h. An accelerating northeastward motion is expected during the next few days. On the forecast track, the core
of Melissa is expected to move across the southeastern or central Bahamas this evening, and is forecast to pass near or to the west of Bermuda late Thursday and Thursday night.

Maximum sustained winds are near 150 km/h with higher gusts. Some restrengthening is possible tonight into tomorrow with weakening beginning thereafter.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 95 km from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 295 km. A private weather station at Pitts Town on Crooked Island recently reported sustained winds of 111 km/h and a wind gust of 131 km/h.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 974 mb. A private weather station at Buckley's Settlement on Long Island recently reported a pressure of 978.4 mb.

The Meteorological Service will continue to monitor the progress of this system.

For an automated version of this message, please dial 116.

The Meteorological Service will continue to monitor the progress of this system.

END