KINGSTON, Jamaica— The hurricane watch for Jamaica has been upgraded to a hurricane warning as Hurricane Elsa approaches the central Caribbean.  

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica said a hurricane warning means that the following dangerous effects of a hurricane are expected to affect the island in 36 hours or less:

– Average winds 119 km/h (74 mph) or higher;

– Dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves, even though winds expected may be less than hurricane force;

The Met Service said that heavy showers and thunderstorms, along with winds reaching tropical-storm force, could begin to impact eastern sections of Jamaica as early as Saturday night.  

According to the Met Service, at 4:00 pm, the centre of Hurricane Elsa was located near latitude 14.2 degrees North, longitude 63.7 degrees west, or about 1,400 kilometres (875 miles) east-southeast of Morant Point, Jamaica. This is also about 815 kilometres (505 miles) southeast of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Elsa is a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale with maximum sustained winds near 140 km/h (85 mph), with higher gusts.  

The Met Service said little change in strength is expected through Saturday but slow weakening is expected to begin on Saturday night or Sunday. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 km (25 miles) from the centre and tropical-storm-force winds extend as far as 220 km (140 miles) from the centre.

Elsa is moving quickly towards the west near 48 km/h (30 mph) and this general motion is expected to continue through Saturday. A west-northwestward motion with a decrease in forward speed is expected on Saturday night and Sunday.

On its forecast track, the centre of Hurricane Elsa will continue to move over the eastern Caribbean today and through the central Caribbean, south of Hispaniola, on Saturday 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 impact eastern sections of Jamaica as early as Saturday night.  

Dangerous sea conditions associated with the hurricane are expected to spread across the Caribbean over the next 24-36 hours.  

The Met Service said all small craft operators, including fishers from the cays and banks, should by now have completed all the necessary safety precautions and are advised to remain in safe harbour until all warning messages have been lifted and sea conditions have returned to normal.