KINGSTON, Jamaica — Devastating hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surges and damaging waves are expected in portions of Jamaica beginning Wednesday afternoon as Hurricane Beryl continues to power through the Caribbean.

This is according to the US National Hurricane Centre.

The centre warned that life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides from heavy rainfall are expected over much of the island while winds are predicted to first reach tropical storm strength during the next several hours, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

The latest bulletin from the Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Service) added that dangerous storm surges, raising water levels by as much as two to three metres (six to nine feet), and battering waves will also be generated along coastal areas of the island.

On its forecast track, the centre of Hurricane Beryl is expected to be passing near or over the island’s southern coastline, from east to west, between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm Wednesday.

Noting that the outer bands of Beryl have already been affecting sections of Jamaica, the Met Service said rainfall associated with the core of the hurricane should be impacting the eastern end of the island within the next couple of hours.

Rainfall totals of 100-200 millimetres (four to eight inches) are forecast for most areas over the period, with higher amounts in higher elevations.

A hurricane warning remains in effect.

At 7:00 am, the eye of Hurricane Beryl was located near latitude 16.9 degrees north, longitude 75.3 degrees west. This is about 145 km (90 miles) east-southeast of Morant Point, or 200 km (125 miles) east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, the Met Service said.

Beryl is moving toward the west-northwest near 31 km/h (20 mph) and this general motion should continue through Wednesday, followed by a turn more toward the west later in the day or Thursday, according to the Met Service.

It added that maximum sustained winds have decreased slightly to near 230 km/h (145 mph), with higher gusts.

The Met Service said some weakening is forecast during the next day or two, however, Beryl is expected to be at or near major hurricane intensity when it reaches Jamaica later Wednesday and the Cayman Islands by early Thursday.