Met Office warns of strong weekend winds as Sangster Airport earns regional carbon milestone

Jamaicans are being urged to prepare for a windy, wet weekend after the Meteorological Service warned that strong to very strong winds will affect the island and surrounding waters through Sunday, with the worst conditions expected on Friday and Saturday, July 10 and 11, 2026.

Forecasters said the conditions stem from a low-level jet stream over the Caribbean, with near-gale force gusts possible especially across southern parishes, hilly areas, and the south coast. Fishers and other marine operators have been told to exercise extreme caution as rough seas are expected, particularly in southern waters including the Pedro and Morant banks. Two tropical waves are also forecast to move across Jamaica, bringing isolated showers and thunderstorms mainly to eastern and western sections. Residents are advised to stay updated on forecasts and advisories. Heavy rainfall was already reported in St. Ann, with Kingston and St. Mary also seeing showers.

In Montego Bay, Sangster International Airport has become the first airport in the English-speaking Caribbean to achieve Level 3 certification under the Airports Council International Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. Shane Monroe, chief executive of MBJ Airports Limited, said the milestone reflects the airport's commitment to cutting carbon emissions and requires collaboration with airlines and other partners. He noted that the achievement forms part of MBJ's wider sustainability strategy, including renewable energy investments.

The Jamaica Public Service Company has reassured customers that electricity rates have not increased, saying higher monthly bills are largely due to greater energy use as households run more cooling equipment during intense summer heat.

At Thursday's sitting of the Integrity Commission Oversight Committee, at least two members called for changes to how the commission investigates parliamentarians and other public officials. They raised concerns about overly intrusive probes, questions about properties acquired decades ago, and the reputational impact of investigations.

World Athletics has launched the Childbirth and Return in Elite Sports initiative to better support pregnant elite athletes and mothers returning to competition. President Sebastian Coe said the project aims to help female athletes avoid having to choose between motherhood and pursuing success at the highest level.

Organisers of the Extraordinary Me programme, including diversity coordinator Alexandra Gregory and behavioural therapy specialist Roma Robinson, announced a sensory-friendly event for neurodivergent children at Hope Zoo on August 15, 2026. Pre-sale tickets are available through Kidsville_JA at $5,000 for one caretaker and one child, with an additional caretaker ticket costing $2,500. Sessions run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Canadian entertainer Nicole Arbour, engaged to reggae artist Skyrass, outlined plans for Pop Shop, a fashion pop-up at Tac Bar in Devon House this Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. She also spoke about her reality series Here Comes Nicole, set for release on We the Studios, Apple TV, and Roku later in July.

In football, France defeated Morocco 2-0 as Kylian Mbappé continued his strong World Cup form. England face Norway, Argentina meet Switzerland, and Belgium play Spain in upcoming fixtures.