KINGSTON, Jamaica — Director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, says Tropical Storm Melissa is expected to become a hurricane by Friday, with the island beginning to feel the impact of the system on Thursday.

“It is expected to, however, become a hurricane, which is likely to occur sometime by Friday as we go into the weekend. Now, the system will most likely impact Jamaica as early as Thursday, which is tomorrow. We should be getting rainfall from the system at that time. We continue to have the country under a tropical storm watch. That is what is there now, it is not a warning but a watch and that means tropical storm conditions are possible within 48 hours,” Thompson said.

He was speaking during a special press briefing held on Wednesday in preparation for Tropical Storm Melissa.

Thompson noted that, as the weather system moves closer to the island, there will be a gradual increase in rainfall on Thursday, with areas closest to the centre of the system expected to experience tropical storm conditions.

“The system is expected to continue strengthening, so while it is moving towards the west over the waters south of the island, there is a good chance that this system will develop into a hurricane — that is what is expected. As the system becomes a hurricane, which is likely to take place on the weekend, it will continue to move, and there is now the possibility that it will become a major hurricane while it is over the water south of us,” Thompson said.

He noted that eastern and southern parishes are most at risk of being impacted by heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Melissa.