Angry flood waters from Tropical Storm Lili washed away several things including this overturned Sports Utility Vehicle at Ten Miles, Bull Bay, yesterday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer THERE WILL be no immediate let up from the torrential rains in the wake of tropical storm Lili, as weather forecasters predict that heavy rainfall will continue throughout the island until tomorrow.
"Lili is expected to start moving to the west later tonight (Sunday)," Brian Bambury, National Meteorological Service forecaster, told The Gleaner yesterday. "As it moves away from us we are still going to see showers continue across the country."
Mr. Bambury said it was "highly likely" that the system would become a hurricane as it moves away from Jamaica. He warned Jamaicans to expect the same conditions as those which followed tropical storm Isidore. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the island and a hurricane watch is in force in Cuba.
"Satellite imagery and radar reports indicate that Jamaica remains engulfed in the broad area of disturbed weather associated with Lili," the Met Service stated in a release yesterday. "Moderate to heavy rainfall has been affecting the entire island since early this morning (Sunday)."
At 4 p.m. yesterday Lili was about 25 kilometres off the coast of Montego Bay heading west at 7 km/h. The North Coast was subject to near 95 km/h winds, according to the Met Service, and Jamaica's second city, Montego Bay, received over 20 millimetres of rain between midnight and noon yesterday. Elsewhere, Kingston was swamped with 108.6 millimetres of rain in the same period.
The Met Service has warned the public that flash flooding may occur in low-lying and flood-prone areas as a result of the heavy rains. It is recommended that the public avoid travelling in areas subject to sudden flooding. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) also issued advice to turn off all electrical circuits and disconnect electrical appliances before evacuating if flooding becomes a threat.
Shelters have been opened across the island, according to the ODPEM. Windsor Castle Community Centre, Easington Primary, Font Hill Primary, Seaforth High School and Yallahs High School are the designated shelters in St. Thomas. In Clarendon, flood victims are advised to go to Osbourne Store Junior and High School. August Town Primary, New Haven Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Edith Dalton James High and Majestic Gardens Community Centre are the designated shelters in Kingston and St. Andrew. Siloah Primary School has been made available in St. Elizabeth, while in St. Catherine, White Marl High School and Innswood High School are also open as shelters.
