Jamaica lifts tropical storm warning, flooding expected 

The tropical storm warning for Jamaica was discontinued at noon today, as the centre of Tropical Storm Rafael continues to move away from the island. 

However, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has advised that a flash flood warning is now in effect for southern parishes and a flash flood watch for the rest of the country until 5 p.m. today. 

ODPEM’s Acting Director General, Richard Thompson, says the severe weather system continues to produce widespread showers, thunderstorms and strong winds, especially across southern parishes.

“We are expecting that we should have rainfall into the latter part of the evening, and probably also have some thunderstorms. So we’re saying to persons that thunderstorms are accompanied by lightning, and we don’t want persons to be struck by lightning,” he said.

Thompson noted that there have been cases of lightning strikes in Jamaica annually, “[and so] we are saying to persons, stay in as best as possible, because it is projected that there will be moments of thunderstorms throughout the day.”

He advises Jamaicans to keep listening to ODPEM and the Meteorological Service of Jamaica for the latest information.

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