Major Rains Expected Over This Weekend

A weather system that will cross this region over the weekend is expected to dump major rains over Belize. Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon says the system has little chances of developing into a hurricane before it reaches, but that we need to be alert and take necessary action if our area is prone to flooding. In addition to that, another weather system further out will likely become a hurricane and could possibly come near to us.

 

Ronald Gordon, Chief Meteorologist

“We are looking at two systems currently that are in the area where one is just on our doorstep just northeast of Honduras, and that’s a broad area of low pressure that currently has a low chance of development before it approaches our coastline. That system will affect us starting tonight. We are going to see an increase in rainfall, and that will persist at least through to Saturday or Sunday of this week. So we’re looking at a few days of relatively heavy rainfall across the country from this system. As I mentioned previously, the chances of it becoming a tropical depression or a hurricane before it gets here are quite low. But it’s going to be a rain producer. And then the second system we’re looking at is more out there in the Atlantic. It’s midway between Africa and the Lesser Antilles and that system has a higher chance of becoming a tropical cyclone within about 48 to 72 hours. We are looking at several models. One of them indicates that system will likely affect the Lesser Antilles on Monday of next week and then enter the Caribbean Sea and thereafter there are some divergence of where it is going. One model shows it going just over northern Honduras. One takes it further to the north. We’re in hurricane season. We know we need to be prepared. So what residents should be doing right now is to closely monitor the weather situation, stay tuned to official weather forecasts and certainly be prepared in the event that we need to take any action.”