Amidst heavy rainfall overnight and into this morning, and with additional rainfall now developing across the country, the TTMS updated the Adverse Weather Alert (Yellow Level) at 12:19 PM today, expanding it for the entire country, and extending it until 8:00 PM today.
Flooding overnight occurred as heavy showers and thunderstorms persisted for five to six hours, inundating Southern Trinidad, and sending the South Oropouche River to threshold levels. Parts of Barrackpore, Penal and now Debe are inundated, with waters receding in parts of Moruga and Siparia.
The Alert—which initially went into effect at 10:00 AM—remains in effect until 8:00 PM today for both islands.
The Met Office explained:
“Low level moisture and convergence will continue to affect Tobago with varying intensities and will spread across varying localities over Trinidad during the next few hours. Moderate to heavy showers can lead to street, flash flooding and localized ponding in some areas. Gusty winds and choppy seas can be expected in the vicinity of heavy downpours. There is the continued likelihood of landslides and toppling trees in areas so prone.”
For a yellow-level, moderate alert, there is the potential for possible injuries, where behavioural changes are required to ensure safety. There may be minor damage to property, with income-earning temporarily disrupted and a couple of communities affected.
The TTMS is advising the public to secure items that may be affected by flood waters and do not venture into flood waters, to be vigilant to changing weather conditions in your area, as well as to monitor official weather updates and reports.
The Met Office’s forecast for today calls for:
“Partly cloudy/ occasionally cloudy periods with showers, at times heavy, will likely interrupt sunshine over varying areas. There is a 60-70% (medium-high) chance of few isolated thunderstorm activity. Night will be partly cloudy occasionally with few showery spells. Gusty winds and street/flash flooding can occur in the event of heavy showers or thunderstorms.”
This activity is due deep low-level moisture and convergence associated with the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) following the passage of a tropical wave yesterday, and ahead of another tropical wave set to move across the country tomorrow (Thursday).
The ITCZ is an area where trade winds meet in the Atlantic Ocean, leading to a band of cloudiness, showers and thunderstorms.