Relief operations in northern and western Jamaica could face setbacks this week, as the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) says intermittent showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds have been forecast through to Thursday.

Director general of ODPEM Commander Alvin Gayle said the expected weather could slow ongoing recovery efforts in several parishes still reeling from the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa two weeks ago.

The expected rain will also prove uncomfortable for the hundreds of Jamaicans whose houses were stripped of their roofs.

“The current weather forecast is for periods of showers and isolated thunderstorms to affect primarily sections of northern parishes beginning this afternoon (Tuesday) and continue to Thursday morning,” he said during Tuesday’s press briefing on the State’s response to the hurricane at the Office of the Prime Minister.

“Isolated showers and thunderstorms are likely across all western parishes during this time. Additionally, gusty winds [are] expected across northern parishes on Tuesday and Wednesday,” Commander Gayle said, adding that while widespread rainfall is not anticipated, even moderate showers could make relief work more difficult in affected areas.

“The key message here being that while significant rainfall is not expected, ongoing relief operations, particularly in northern parishes, could be hampered by intermittent showers and thunderstorms through Thursday,” he said.

According to Gayle, ODPEM and its partners have been closely monitoring two systems — a cold front from the north and another weather disturbance from the south — since last Thursday. In preparation, Gayle said his office directed non-governmental organisations and government agencies to distribute thousands of tarpaulins ahead of the new weather threat.

“My direction to the various NGOs and government agencies was to call for the roughly 45,000 tarpaulins on island as of last week Thursday to be distributed. More than 80 per cent of those have been distributed, particularly because we were expecting this event to occur,” he said.

Gayle noted that the move was part of the Government’s strategy to meet both immediate shelter needs and longer-term recovery goals as Jamaica continues to rebuild after the storm.

Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management Director General Commander Alvin Gayle speaking at Tuesday’s media briefing called by the Government to update the country on Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts. Gayle said intermittent showers, thunderstorms, and gusty winds forecast through to Thursday could set back relief work.(Photo: Joseph Wellington)