KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Meteorological Service of Jamaica says there is a Tropical Storm Watch now in effect for the country as the area of low pressure over the Central Caribbean Sea has the potential to develop into a tropical cyclone by tonight as it becomes better organised.

The Met Service added that as of 4:00 pm Potential Tropical Cyclon⁸e Number 15 was centred about 370 kilometres (230 miles) southeast of Morant Point, St Thomas.

“The system is moving towards the west-northwest near 17km/h (10 mph) and this motion is expected to continue over the next several days with a gradual turn to the west by Tuesday night,” it said in a statement.

“Maximum sustained winds are near 65 km/h (40mph), with high gusts. Strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and the system is expected to become a tropical storm by tonight and be near hurricane intensity by Tuesday night,” the meteorological service continued.

It added that the disturbance is forecasted to pass over the water south of Jamaica on Monday and south of the Cayman Islands on Tuesday before approaching Belize in Central America on Wednesday as a hurricane.

“During its passage off Jamaica’s south coast, the system has the potential to produce locally heavy rainfall and strong, gusty winds primarily over eastern and southern parishes, starting as early as Monday morning and residents should be on the alert for flash flooding in flood-prone areas,” the met service warned.

It further advised fishers on the cays and banks in Jamaica to exercise extreme caution and urged small craft operators to return to port as strong winds are expected tonight.