The tropical storm watch for Jamaica has been discontinued, with immediate effect.

This as tropical storm Ian has moved further south away from the island.

However the country should still expect some impact with heavy rains over the weekend, with the possibility of flooding in low lying areas.

In its latest bulletin, the met service said conditions associated with a tropical storm are no longer expected with Ian.

Over the past several hours, tropical storm Ian has drifted a bit to the south, taking it farther from the coastline and placing the island outside of the projected range of tropical-storm-force winds.

As at 2:00 p.m. the centre of tropical storm Ian was located about 435 kilometres south-south-east of Kingston, or 405 kilometres south of Morant Point.

Ian is now moving towards the west, near 26 kilometres per hour and this general motion is expected to continue through tonight.

A turn toward the northwest is forecast for Sunday, followed by a north-north-westward turn, by Monday.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 75 kilometres per hour with higher gusts, however significant strengthening is forecast during the next few days.

Ian is expected to become a hurricane by late Sunday evening, while still located south-west of Jamaica, and moving farther away towards the Cayman Islands.

Jamaica is currently well outside of the range of tropical-storm-force winds, which extend outward up to 95 kilometres from the centre.

On its forecast track, the centre of the tropical storm should remain south of Jamaica and continue moving westward away from the island through Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Ian will then pass near or over the Cayman Islands between Sunday night and Monday morning before approaching western Cuba on Monday.

While the tropical storm remains over the west-central Caribbean, it will continue to produce a large area of showers and thunderstorms that could impact the weather over Jamaica through Monday.

Locally heavy rainfall could produce flash floods mainly over low-lying and flood-prone areas of southern and eastern parishes, therefore residents are urged to remain alert.

Small craft operators, including fishers from the cays and banks, are to remain in safe harbor until wind and sea conditions have returned to normal.