Rainfall from the outer bands of Hurricane Beryl began affecting sections of Jamaica overnight with strong winds associated with the storm expected to reach the island as early as 9am, the Meteorological Service of Jamaica said in its latest bulletin.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for Jamaica as the category four storm barrels towards the island.

At 4am, the eye of Hurricane Beryl was located about 240 km (150 miles) east-southeast of Morant Point, or 300 km (185 miles) east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, the met office said.

Beryl is forecast to be at or near major hurricane intensity when it reaches Jamaica on Wednesday. On the forecast track, the centre of the hurricane is expected to be passing near or over the island’s southern coastline between 10am and 8pm, the met office said.

Strong winds, reaching near tropical storm force, are expected to reach Jamaica as early as 9am. These will quickly increase to near hurricane strength as the centre of Beryl remains close to the island, according to the weather authorities.

Rainfall from the outer bands of the ferocious hurricane began affecting Jamaica late Tuesday. However, the met office said in its 5am bulletin that showers associated with the core of the storm are expected to start impacting the eastern end of the island “within the next 3-4 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.

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, the met office said.