So, now that we've given you a snapshot of how the torrential rains
from 2 days have affected the country, we also went seeking answers
from the weather experts about what caused it and how long the rains
will last.
This evening, the Deputy Chief Meteorologist from the National Met
Service told us via telephone that all this rain was mostly caused by a
tropical depression, which passed over Central Belize late on Tuesday
night. Here are his comments on that unnamed storm, which is now
causing all this headache:
Voice of: Ronald Gordon - Deputy Chief Meteorologist
"Looking back at what has occurred over the past few days, we saw that the
central parts of the country, including Belmopan, going down the
Hummingbird, into Stann Creek District, up to Red Bank and those areas,
received about 4 to 6 inches of rainfall within yesterday and this morning.
What caused that amount of rainfall? First of all, we had a tropical wave
that crossed the country late on Tuesday with a lot of moisture converging
behind that system. And at the same time, we had very favourable,
upper-level winds promoting thunderstorm activity. So, that was responsible
for the torrential rainfall that we had over the past - let's say 36 hours
or so. That system has moved on to the west of the country, and the models
are suggesting gradual improvement going into the weekend. However, before
I say that, all indications are that we are going to have another bout of
heavy thunderstorm activity over the south tonight. That would be over the
Toledo District, and then after tomorrow, Friday, we should see improving
weather conditions. On Saturday, we're looking at a few showers, but
generally isolated activity, and then another surge of moisture will occur
late Sunday into Monday, as another tropical wave, which right now is in
the Central Caribbean, approaches our area."
Reporter
"Is there any expected development for that one?"
Voice of: Ronald Gordon
"Currently, the National Hurricane Center is not giving that system any
chance of development into a tropical depression, or a tropical storm.
However, I must mention. The system that affected us was not a tropical
storm or a tropical depression, and it produced that amount of
rainfall. So, an important point to make, you do not need a tropical
depression. It does not have to develop into a tropical depression for
it to produce significant rainfall and flooding, as we saw in this last
event."
The forecast for the next 24 hours calls for mostly cloudy weather
with a few showers, periods of rain and isolated thunderstorms
occurring mostly over the south and some inland areas tonight, then
mostly along the coast tomorrow morning decreasing and becoming
isolated.
We note also that Becol reported the spillway at the Chalillo dam
became active and water levels are rising on the rio on near the
Vaca dam. Rising water levels are expected downstream near San
Ignacio and Santa Elena. There is also a flood alert for watersheds
on the northern and eastern slopes of the Maya mountains.
We'll have the full flood forecast later on in the news.
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