THE NATIONAL Meteorological Service yesterday issued a tropical storm warning for Jamaica following the formation of Tropical Storm Odette in the Caribbean four days after the hurricane season ended.
Odette, which the Met Service said was the first off season tropical storm recorded in a long time, was located about 425 kilometres south-south-east of Kingston at 8 o'clock last night and was expected to cause more rain and thunderstorms into today, especially in eastern parishes.
The system was moving toward the north east at about 17 kilometres per hour, with maximum winds near 65 km per hour.
It was expected to strengthen slightly between last night and today.
Most tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic and Caribbean form during the official season that runs from June 1 to November 30. But this season has been unusual, beginning with Tropical Storm Ana, which formed in April.
Bryan Bambury, Senior Meteorologist, said last night that Odette's centre was projected to pass close to 180 km east of Morant Point early today.
BLOCKED ROADS
The National Works Agency (NWA), in a news release, said rainfall in the last 72 hours had forced 10 families in St. Mary to flee their homes because of flooding. Crews from the NWA were up to last night clearing blocked roads in Baileys Vale and Sandside in the parish.
The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) reported that students at Port Maria Primary School had to be evacuated by the Jamaica Fire Brigade. It advised motorists to be careful when passing the school as only heavy vehicles could access the area. The road between Baileys Vale and Jacks River in Tryall, St. Mary, was reported blocked.
LAND SLIPPAGE
Also, there were reports of land slippage along the Junction road in St. Elizabeth, which the NWA said was partly cleared last night, and minor flooding along the road leading from Fern Gully into Ocho Rios in St. Ann, and in Ocho Rios near to the Texaco service station and Scotiabank, a release from ODPEM said.
The weather has also resulted in the activation of the ODPEM's National Response Mechanism, which the disaster preparedness organisation said will remain on the alert pending any increase in incidents resulting from this system.
NWA, the Jamaica Fire Brigade, the police, the Jamaica Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Parish Disaster Committees form the mechanism.
The ODPEM has advised the public, especially those in low-lying and flood-prone areas, to take precautions and be on alert as the rain continues and flooding becomes possible. The Met Service urged fishermen and other marine interests to stay on shore as sea conditions mainly south and east of the island, will deteriorate.
