DEAN NOW A CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE
posted: 2007-08-17 15:52:49
At 1:00 p.m. the centre of Hurricane Dean was located near Latitude 14.8 degrees North, Longitude 63.6 degrees West. This is about 280 kilometres (175 miles) west of Martinique or close to 1380 kilometres (860 miles) east-southeast of Morant Point, Jamaica.
Dean is moving towards the west near 35 km/h (22 mph) and this general motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 205 km/h (125 mph), with higher gusts, making Dean a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale, and further strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward approximately 35 kilometres (25 miles), while tropical storm force winds extend as far as 295 kilometres (185 miles) from the centre.
On the current forecast track, Hurricane Dean is expected to continue moving over the central Caribbean Sea and then over or very close to Jamaica by Sunday morning. Outer bands of the hurricane are, therefore, expected to start affecting eastern parishes of the island by Saturday evening with periods of
heavy rainfall and strong winds.
Fishers on the cays and banks are strongly advised to evacuate immediately with a view to returning to the mainland by tonight. Other small craft operators in our coastal waters are advised to return to port and those in port are advised not to venture out.
It is likely that a Hurricane Watch could be issued for the island later this afternoon as the Meteorological Service continues to monitor the progress of this system. All interests, especially fishers and other marine operators, should pay special attention to subsequent Releases.
The next Bulletin on Hurricane Dean will be issued at 5:00 p.m.