Jamaica weather: fair skies tonight, showers to spread south on Tuesday

Jamaica can expect settled weather tonight as high pressure keeps much of the Caribbean dry, though satellite imagery still shows cloud cover over the island and the southern basin. A strong jet stream over open waters is producing winds of about 13 knots, while dry air elsewhere in the region is maintaining stable, fair conditions across the Greater Antilles and the Yucatán.

Tonight's outlook calls for clear skies islandwide. Temperatures are forecast to fall to 27°C in Kingston and 26°C in Montego Bay.

On Tuesday morning, showers are likely over eastern parishes before activity spreads southward in the afternoon. Much of the south coast could see rain, with afternoon showers also expected in Kingston, Half Way Tree, Mandeville, Santa Cruz, Black River, Savannah-la-Mar, Negril, Lucea, Montego Bay, and Falmouth. Morning showers are also on the cards for St Ann's Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, and Port Maria, with afternoon activity possible in Golden Spring, Bog Walk, Mocho, Christiana, Duncans, and Cave Valley. Daytime highs should reach 35°C in Kingston and up to 36°C in Montego Bay.

Looking further ahead, Thursday should bring showers and isolated thunderstorms. Rain is expected across central and western parishes on Friday, with eastern and central parishes in line for showers on Saturday.

For marine conditions, north-coast winds are easterly at 15 to 20 knots, with wave heights between 1.5 and 2 metres. Along the south coast on Tuesday, winds should blow from the east-southeast at 15 to 20 knots, with similar wave heights. The warning for offshore areas has been lifted for Tuesday, though winds are averaging about 20 knots and waves about 2 metres. In the longer marine outlook, winds are expected to ease from the east-northeast at 10 to 15 knots on Wednesday, then strengthen from the east at 15 to 20 knots on Thursday and Friday, reaching up to 25 knots by Friday.

Sunset on Tuesday is forecast for 6:44 p.m. in Kingston and 6:50 p.m. at Negril Point.