Stable skies overnight as western showers and small craft warnings loom for Wednesday

Jamaica is under generally settled weather this evening as strong Caribbean winds and recent drying keep skies largely stable, with overnight lows near 25°C and fair conditions islandwide.

An intense jet stream is steering much of the region's moisture into the western Caribbean. Open waters remain mostly calm with scant cloud cover, aside from isolated thunderstorms over parts of Hispaniola and Puerto Rico.

Tonight, fair skies are expected across the island. Temperatures should fall to about 25°C. North-coast winds from the east and southeast will average roughly five knots.

Wednesday morning looks partly cloudy mainly inland and in western sections. Afternoon showers are possible over western parishes, while most other areas stay partly cloudy. Kingston is forecast to reach 35°C and Montego Bay 34°C. Morant Bay and Port Antonio should remain generally sunny. Windy weather is expected to continue across the southeast.

Partly cloudy skies are likely in May Pen, Mandeville, Santa Cruz, Black River, and Negril. A few showers may develop in Savanna-la-Mar and Lucea. Northeastern parishes should stay partly cloudy, as should Golden Spring and Bog Walk. Green Hill could see brief afternoon showers.

Similar partly cloudy afternoons are expected Thursday through Saturday across much of the island.

On the marine side, north-coast winds Wednesday are easterly near 20 knots with seas averaging about two metres. A small craft warning remains in force for south-coast inshore waters, where winds of 15 to 25 knots and seas up to 2.5 metres are possible. Offshore, the warning covers winds of 25 to 30 knots and seas of 2.5 to three metres, and it is likely to remain through the rest of the week. Thursday to Saturday should bring winds of 20 to 25 knots and seas of two to 2.5 metres.

Sunset Wednesday is listed at 6:46 p.m. in Kingston and 6:52 p.m. at Negril Point.