JAMAICANS CAN expect more rains today, according to the National Meteorological Service which has extended the severe weather alert in effect for eight parishes.
Hanover, St. Mary, St. Ann, Trelawny, Portland, St. James, St. Thomas and Kingston and St. Andrew can expect mostly cloudy conditions with occasional outbreaks of showers and thunderstorms today, the Met office said, warning persons in low lying and flood-prone areas of the potential for flooding.
The cloudy conditions, accompanied by showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected to continue for the next three days. A surface trough and an area of low pressure, which have been lingering over the western Caribbean and its offshore waters have been responsible for the rains.
Up to press time yesterday, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) said there were no reports of flooding or landslides.
But the ODPEM added that four persons were left homeless after saturated soil from heavy rainfall resulted in a tree falling on their house.
The incident, which took place at 7 Morgan Lane, off Grants Pen Road, St. Andrew, occurred about 2:00 p.m. yesterday. ODPEM said the fire department was working to clear the tree but a spokesman from the Jamaica Fire Brigade headquarters, York Park Fire Station, said the fire brigade did not have equipment such as chainsaws which were needed to remove the tree. The ODPEM said yesterday it was to procure the equipment needed for the job.
Trudy Simpson
