Wet and Windy Friday Ahead for Tropical Storm Watch Areas

So, what possible impacts will Belize City experience if Hurricane Beryl continues down the current projected path and makes landfall as a category two hurricane in the Yucatan Peninsula? According to Gordon, it will likely result in a rainy and windy day for the Old Capital, with wind speeds of up to twenty-five miles per hour. He further noted that the current tropical storm watch will likely be upgraded to a warning if the system shifts slightly southward.

 

Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist, NMS

“We do have the watch in place to alert residents in these particular areas that there is the possibility they may experience tropical storm conditions, late Thursday into Friday morning. Apart from the winds in a tropical storm which is between thirty-nine miles for hour and seventy-three miles for hour. There are other hazards associated with the system which includes heavy rainfall, and the rainfall projections are not at four to six inches as the system crosses with locally higher values. We are aware of the situation in terms of the saturated soils. With the relatively strong and gusty winds we expect sea conditions to be rough. We expect some swells to be generated by the system and create large battering waves that will affect certain areas of the coast as well.”

 

Paul Lopez

“If the storm continues down the projected path and it maintains the level of strength that is forecasted at landfall one or two, what can we expect for the Orange Walk District and the Belize District, Belize City in particular?

 

Ronald Gordon

“As I have always said, precision and details will increase with time. We are still thirty-six hours out. To be honest with you we know that the forecast will never be precise. It will never be precise to the level that people would want. But, just to give you some ideas. We do know that the extreme north of the country will be the area that will be most impacted by the winds. Those will decrease rapidly as we move from that area. In Belize City based on what we are seeing currently, we are looking at a windy gusty day, winds of up to fifteen to twenty-five knots late Thursday, Friday, due to the system. Orange Walk about twenty to thirty knots and further north a bit higher.”