Jamaica is now under a Tropical Storm Warning.
The Meteorological Service has also issued a Hurricane Watch for the island as Elsa, the first hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season, barrels into the eastern Caribbean.
This means that tropical storm conditions, including possible sustained wind speeds of 63 to 118 miles per hour, are expected to affect Jamaica, while hurricane conditions also pose a possible threat to the island in 36 hours or less.
At 10 o'clock, the centre of Hurricane Elsa was located 1,043 miles east-southeast of Morant Point.
Elsa is moving quickly towards the west-northwest near 28 miles per hour and this general motion is expected to continue over the next couple of days.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 74 miles per hour, with higher gusts.
Little change in strength is forecast during the next 48 hours.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 21 miles from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds extend as far as 136 miles per hour from the centre.
The centre of Hurricane Elsa will continue to move over the eastern Caribbean today and through the central Caribbean, south of Hispaniola, tomorrow before passing just east and north of Jamaica on Sunday morning.
Heavy showers and thunderstorms, along with winds reaching tropical-storm force, could begin to affect eastern sections of Jamaica as early as tomorrow night.
All small craft operators, including fishers from the cays and banks, should by now be in port and are urged to complete their necessary safety precautions without delay.
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