Airports stay open today, Sunday operations uncertain amid approaching storm Melissa - Vaz

Both of Jamaica’s international airports will remain open today to accommodate scheduled flights, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz has announced.

“After a 7 a.m. meeting this morning with both airport CEOs, the decision has been taken for both airports to remain open for today to accommodate all scheduled flights into Kingston and Montego Bay,” Vaz said in a statement Saturday morning.

However, he cautioned that operations at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay are uncertain for Sunday, as conditions are expected to worsen with the approach of Tropical Storm Melissa.

“We will meet again at 2 p.m. today to assess the latest weather bulletin and make a decision on closure. But I would encourage all persons who are leaving Jamaica or coming to Jamaica to try and do so today as tomorrow is not a certainty for the airports to remain open,” Vaz warned.

The decision comes as the Meteorological Service of Jamaica reported that Melissa is expected to rapidly intensify Saturday and become a major hurricane by Sunday.

At 7 a.m. Saturday, the system’s centre was located about 210 kilometres southeast of Morant Point and 260 kilometres southeast of Kingston.

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for Jamaica, meaning that within 36 hours or less, residents should expect dangerously high water, strong winds of at least 119 km/h (74 mph), and exceptionally high waves.

The Met Service said Melissa is forecast to move over central Jamaica early next week, producing between 350 and 650 millimetres (15 to 25 inches) of rain, with catastrophic flash floods and landslides likely.

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