At 2 p.m. Thursday, the center of Hurricane Jose was located near latitude 15.2 north, longitude 51.4 west.

Jose is moving toward the west-northwest near 18 miles per hour (30 kilometers per hour).  The hurricane is expected to continue on this track, with a slight decrease in forward speed during the next couple of days.

Jose is now a category 2 hurricane, and maximum sustained winds have increased to near 105 miles per hour (165 kilometers per hour) with higher gusts. The Met. Office predicts that additional strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Jose is expected to become a major hurricane on Friday.

A hurricane watch is in effect for Antigua and Barbuda and a tropical storm watch is in effect for some of the northern windward and leeward islands. A tropical wave located over the eastern tropical Atlantic is moving westward near 24 kilometers per hour.

The National Emergency Management Organization and the Saint Lucia Meteorological Service will continue to monitor the progress of these systems and provide updates as necessary. The public is reminded to stay vigilant during this active hurricane season, update family preparedness plans and undertake required activities accordingly. Remember that the official source for information are the MET OFFICE and NEMO in Saint Lucia.