KINGSTON, Jamaica — Hurricane Beryl, the Category 5 storm powering its ways through the Caribbean, is now predicted to make landfall in southern Jamaica on Wednesday.

Initial forecasts had shown the centre of the hurricane passing south of the island, however, official forecasts from the National Hurricane Centre now show the centre of the hurricane making landfall in southern Jamaica by Wednesday.

The strongest winds of a hurricane are located in the eye of the storm.

According to CNN, this change in track will increase the impact of the adverse weather conditions felt across the island.

The National Hurricane Centre said winds are expected to first reach tropical storm strength early on Wednesday, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous. It added that a storm surge could raise water levels by as much as five to eight feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds along the immediate coast of Jamaica.

Furthermore, the centre said Hurricane Beryl is expected to produce rainfall totals of four to eight inches, with localised maxima of 12 inches, across Jamaica and the southwestern Haitian Peninsula through late Wednesday.

Even if Beryl doesn’t make landfall in Jamaica, its outer bands will bring significant impacts.

Beryl is one of the earliest hurricanes on record in the Atlantic.