Jamaica weather forecast: High pressure to bring drier, windier conditions by next week

A weak high-pressure system remains the main weather feature over Jamaica and nearby Caribbean areas, with partly cloudy conditions expected for much of the island tonight and scattered afternoon showers continuing into the weekend.

Cloud patches are being monitored across the central and eastern Caribbean, while sections of Cuba and central and western Jamaica have been seeing afternoon cloudiness, showers and thunderstorms. Isolated cloud cover is also present around Hispaniola.

Forecasters expect the high-pressure system to stay in place through the weekend. As it strengthens, conditions across the region should turn drier, with a firmer wind pattern likely between Sunday and Monday. That could leave much of the Caribbean under drier weather at the start of next week.

For tonight, skies should be partly cloudy across most parishes. Temperatures are forecast to fall to about 25°C in both Kingston and Montego Bay. Light winds of about five knots are expected along the coasts.

Friday morning is forecast to be partly cloudy to mostly cloudy, especially over eastern Jamaica. By afternoon, isolated showers and thunderstorms are likely over inland areas and western parishes, with daytime highs reaching about 34°C in Kingston and Montego Bay.

Kingston and Half Way Tree are expected to see cloudy conditions, while Morant Bay may get morning showers. Afternoon showers are forecast for Santa Cruz, Black River, Savanna-la-Mar and Lucea. Montego Bay and Falmouth could see isolated showers and possible thunderstorms.

Inland communities, including Christiana, Green Island and Brown's Town, are also forecast to get showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy conditions are expected in St Ann's Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Maria, Port Antonio, Golden Spring, Bog Walk, Mocho and Richmond.

Similar afternoon shower activity is expected on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, mainly over inland sections.

At sea, north coast winds on Friday should blow from the east at 10 to 15 knots, with waves between one and 1.5 metres. On the south coast, east-southeasterly to easterly winds of 15 to 20 knots are expected, with waves of 1.5 to two metres. Offshore areas should see easterly winds at 15 to 20 knots and similar wave heights. From Saturday to Monday, easterly winds are forecast at 15 to 30 knots, with seas between 1.5 and two metres.

Sunset on Friday is expected at 6:26 p.m. in Kingston and 6:32 p.m. in Negril.