KINGSTON, Jamaica— A tropical storm watch, which was issued on Thursday, remains in effect for the island, the Meteorological Service of Jamaica said in its latest bulletin Friday morning.

The 8am update stated that heavy rainfall is affecting sections of all parishes, and tropical storm conditions continue to pose a threat to Jamaica.

“At 7:00am Potential Tropical Cyclone Number 22 was centred near latitude 16.8 degrees North, longitude 79.6 degrees West. This is about 295 kilometres (183 miles) southwest of Negril Pont and 325 kilometres (200 miles) west-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica,” Met Service said.

It added that the system is moving towards the northeast near 117km/h, and this motion is expected to continue with increasing forward speed through the weekend.

“On the forecast track, the centre of the system is expected to move across Jamaica later today, and over southeastern Cuba, the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands on Saturday,” the weather service reported.

Met service reported that the potential cyclone remains poorly organised, but is expected to produce up to 300 millimetres (up to 12 inches) of heavy rain accompanied by strong, gusty winds, especially over southern and eastern parishes.

This could result in flooding, as a result a flash flood warning is in effect for low-lying and flood-prone areas in Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon, St Catherine, Kingston, St Andrew, St Thomas, Portland and St Mary. While a flash flood watch remains in effect for other low-lying and flood-prone areas of the island, Met Service said.

READ: Met Service issues flash flood watch for all parishes

The weather service added that the potential tropical cyclone is expected to strengthen and could become a tropical storm up to Friday night.

“All small craft operators, including fishers from the cays and banks, should by now be in port and are urged to complete their necessary safety precautions without delay,” Met Service warned.