AS heavy rainfall continues to pelt sections of the island, Prime Minister Andrew Holness is urging parents and community members to pay close attention to their children, especially those who are crossing gullies or flooded roads.

“What we are seeing is a consequence of a shift in weather patterns which is a direct result of climate change,” the prime minister said in a statement yesterday.

He said in tracking the country’s weather activities over the last 50 years, the majority of rainfall was concentrated in the north-eastern sections of the island, particularly in Portland.

“Based on our observation, this pattern has shifted to the north-western sections of the island,” Holness said.

The prime minister said he will be continuing his advocacy for developed countries to fund climate adaptation and mitigation, for countries such as Jamaica, and other small island developing states, so that these countries can put in place the infrastructure that can withstand adverse climatic events.

Yesterday, the Meteorological Service continued a flash flood warning for low-lying and flood-prone areas of Clarendon, St Catherine, Kingston and St Andrew, and St Thomas, and maintained the flash flood watch for low-lying and flood-prone areas of St Ann, St Mary, and Portland until 5:00 pm today.

The unstable weather conditions impacting the island is as a result of a trough across Jamaica and the central Caribbean, the Meteorological Service said yesterday.

Check out these scenes from across the Corporate Area of flooded and damaged roads, and commuters trying to keep dry as the weather conditions persisted yesterday.