FELIX CONTINUES WEST AND COULD BECOME A HURRICANE

The 6th Tropical Storm of the Season, FELIX, continues to move westward within favourable conditions in the southeastern Caribbean.



At 4:00 p.m. the centre of Tropical Storm Felix was located near Latitude 12.7 degrees North, Longitude 65.3 degrees West. This is about 1310 kilometres (820 miles) east-southeast of Morant Point, Jamaica, or 500 kilometres (310 miles) east of Aruba.



Felix is moving towards the west near 30 km/h (18 mph) and this general motion is expected to continue during the next 24 hours.



Maximum sustained winds are near 110 km/h (70 mph), with higher gusts, and Felix is forecast to reach hurricane strength tonight or early Sunday. Tropical storm force winds extend outward about 220 kilometres (140 miles)primarily north of the centre.



The current projection is for Tropical Storm Felix to pass close to the Netherlands Antilles as a hurricane by tomorrow morning and then to begin moving over the waters well south of Jamaica on Monday morning.



Fishers on the cays and banks are further urged to complete their preparations and be on the alert to evacuate. Other small craft operators in our coastal

waters are advised not to venture far from port.



The Meteorological Service will continue to monitor the progress of this system and all interests, especially fishers and other marine operators, should pay special attention to subsequent Releases.



The next Bulletin on Tropical Storm Felix will be issued at 8:00 p.m.



METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE, JAMAICA

Division of the Ministry of Local Government and Environment