Stronger 'Ivan' effects by noon
By Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
The
Meteorological Service said there were reports of tidal surges in sections
of Kingston, and St. Thomas in eastern Jamaica, due to Hurricane Ivan.
Bryan Bambury, duty forecaster at the Met Office, told The Gleaner this morning that Hurricane Ivan was 270 kilometres southeast of Jamaica. He said the hurricane was still a category four system.
He added that the hurricane was still a serious threat to Jamaica and stronger effects of the weather system could be felt by noon today.
"It continues to be a very dangerous threat to Jamaica, and we could see the system setting in by midday," Mr. Bambury said.
To get first-hand information, he said he and a team from the Met Office visited a section of the sea off the Palisadoes main road near Norman Manley International Airport.
According to Mr. Bambury, waves that were about 10 feet were breaking up on the side of a boat in Kingston Harbour. He added that forecasters stationed at the airport have already noticed a change in the winds which he said were now coming from the north.
Meanwhile, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) said weather conditions have been deteriorating and persons must evacuate flood-prone and coastal areas.
ODPEM said coastal areas in St. Thomas, eastern Jamaica, were experiencing
tidal surges, resulting in several rivers being swollen. The disaster
preparedness agency added
That coastal roads were likely to become flooded and will be unsafe, especially
areas near the water.
ODPEM has urged citizens to monitor the radio continuously for further
bulletins.