Jamaica Gleaner

'Ivan' delayed but coming

By Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer

The Meteorological Service says Hurricane Ivan has slowed a bit and is likely to hit Jamaica late this evening or early tomorrow morning.

The hurricane was earlier forecasted to hit by noon today.

Bryan Bambury, duty forecaster at the Meteorological Service, told The Gleaner that citizens should continue heeding hurricane warnings despite a delay in the hurricane's arrival.

"Slowing down is not good for us," he said this morning. "It might mean that we could have tropical storm-force winds for an extended period."

According to him, there could also be heavy rains, although Hurricane Ivan was last located at 15.5 degrees North, 73.3 degrees west, or 465 kilometres southeast of Kingston.

"Hurricane Ivan is still a category four hurricane but still has the potential to re-intensify to a category five before reaching Jamaica," Mr. Bambury said.

He added that while the eye of Hurricane Ivan is expected to remain over the southeast waters throughout today, heavy rains associated with the outer fringes of the weather system could affect Jamaica earlier.