KINGSTON, Jamaica — A hurricane warning remains in effect for Jamaica as Hurricane Beryl continues on a track towards the island.

The latest bulletin from the Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Service) said that at 4:00 am, the eye of Hurricane Beryl was located near latitude 14.6 degrees north, longitude 66.9 degrees west. This is about 1,120 km (695 miles) east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.

The Met Service said Beryl is moving toward the west-northwest near 35 km/h (22 mph) and is forecast to continue moving rapidly west-northwestward during the next couple of days and turn westward by Thursday.

It said maximum sustained winds have increased to near 270 km/h (165 mph), with higher gusts.

Beryl is predicted to begin weakening late Tuesday but is still expected to be near major hurricane intensity as it moves into the central Caribbean and passes near Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands on Thursday. Additional weakening is expected thereafter, although Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean.

The Met Service warned that 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 wind and sea conditions have returned to normal.

Based on the current official forecast track, the eye of Hurricane Beryl is expected to be south of Hispaniola on Tuesday afternoon and evening before it moves just southeast of Jamaica on Wednesday morning and then follows a path adjacent to the coastline throughout the rest of the day, it said.

As the centre of Beryl moves closer to the island, the service said to expect heavy rainfall to begin affecting the island early on Wednesday.

This would later be accompanied by possible hurricane-force winds across the island, dangerous storm surges, and battering waves along coastal areas of mainly southern parishes, it said.