What's Happening - Weather and Other Matters, September 26, 2024

Press Release From The Meteorological Service - 20240926

At 7 p.m., the eye of Hurricane Helene was located near latitude 28.7 North, longitude 84.3 West.  Helene is moving toward the north-northeast near 37 km/h.  A continued fast motion to the north-northeast is expected through landfall in the Florida Big Bend in a few hours.  After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 215 km/h with higher gusts.  Helene is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.  Some additional strengthening is possible before the center reaches the coast in a few hours.  Weakening is expected after Helene moves inland, but the fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 500 km.  Albert Whitted  airport in St. Petersburg, Florida reported a sustained wind of 85 km/h with a gust to 122 km/h. 

The minimum central pressure estimated from Hurricane Hunter aircraft observations is 942 mb.

Hurricane Helene is not a threat to Jamaica. The Meteorological Service will continue to monitor this system.

See also our website:  http://metservice.gov.jm

Overall Look At The Weather

There is tropical storm John with speeds of 110 km/h on the western coast of Mexico, Helene is now a category 4 hurricane packing winds of 220 km/hr. Areas now being affected include Perry, Tallahassee and Greenville in the US. Other areas in Florida are also experiencing strong winds and rain.

Storm Isaacs is in the North Atlantic with wind speeds of 100 km/hr. Invest 98L in the Atlantic has a 90% chance of development within seven days but it is not a threat to the Caribbean at this point.

Flooding in Jamaica

Alligator Pond

Bog Walk Gorge

There has been flooding in Alligator Pond and I also got a report that the Bog Gorge is blocked due to a land slippage in the area. We expect the police or the NWA to report on this. In the meantime, I would suggest motorist to avoid the area.

Police vehicle Accident

A passerby reports that a police vehicle skid off the highway in Clarendon close to Glenmuir. He reports that the injured persons have been taken to the May Pen Hospital. This could be related to the inclement weather. The police should be sending out information shortly.

What's Happening in Grand Cayman

This fire at the Ignatius School in Grand Cayman took place today Thursday, September 26, 2024.

There is also flooding in Grand Cayman as the Caribbean experience heavy showers. Schools have been closed there.

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