Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Heavy rain yesterday slows down repairs to Marcus Garvey Drive in St. Andrew, two weeks after Jamaica's road network was damaged by thunderstorms. More showers associated with Tropical Storm Noel have been forecast to hit the island today. - Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

Heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Noel are expected to pound Jamaica today, just two weeks after a baptism which ravaged the island's road network, triggered landslides and devastated many rural farms.

Noel, the 14th tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, is forecast to pass over Haiti's south-western peninsula in the morning, and its centre is expected to move over south-eastern Cuba later in the day, the United States National Hurricane Center said.

The weather system, which was upgraded yesterday from a tropical depression to a tropical storm, is expected to produce gusty winds and above-normal waves in Jamaica, especially along the eastern and northern coastlines.

At press time last night, maximum sustained winds were near 95 km/h (60 mph), with higher gusts, but additional strengthening was predicted for the next 24 hours.

At 4:00 p.m. yesterday, the centre of Tropical Storm Noel was about 470 kilometres (290 miles) east-south-east of Morant Point, Jamaica, or 205 kilometres (125 miles) south-south-east of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The Meteorological Service said 'Noel' was moving towards the north-north-west near 7 km/h (5 mph) and this general motion, with an increase in forward speed, is expected during the next 24 hours.

Seamen, stay put

Sea conditions are expected to deteriorate. Small-craft operators in coastal waters were advised to return to port and those in port were advised not to venture out.

Meanwhile, Ronald Jackson, director general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Manage-ment (ODPEM), told The Gleaner yesterday that his organisation was moving supplies to the northeastern section of the island, which is most likely to feel the effects of the storm.

He said ODPEM was also trying to determine what shelters should be opened if evacuation becomes necessary.

Meanwhile, Stephen Shaw, communications manager at the National Works Agency (NWA), said his agency contacted its partners in the northeast Jamaica, particularly St. Thomas, to be on standby to help with the clearing of roads if the need arises.

Reuters news agency said U.S. National Hurricane Center officials were uncertain if Noel would have an opportunity to strengthen into a hurricane with winds of at least 74 mph (119 kph) because that would depend on whether it stayed over warm water or spent more time over land.

"The amount of interaction with land during the next two to three days is still rather uncertain, but the official intensity forecast indicates strengthening since the cyclone will be mostly over water if the official track forecast verifies," hurricane centre forecaster Richard Knabb wrote in a discussion piece on the storm.

"It is not out of the question that Noel could become a hurricane prior to passing over Cuba."

The hurricane centre said Noel could dump eight to 12 inches (20 cm to 30 cm) of rain, with isolated downpours of up to 20 inches (51 cm), over Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Haiti is particularly vulnerable because widespread deforestation leaves many towns and villages prone to flooding.

The hurricane season ends on November 30.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com