Tropical depression threatening southern Belize
Since the beginning of October, Belizeans have been keeping their fingers crossed hoping that the month would pass quickly without any threats from natural disasters. Today it appears it’s not meant to be as around nine this morning tropical depression number sixteen formed just off the coast of Honduras and heading to southern Belize. According to Acting Chief Meteorologist Ramon Frutos, they have been monitoring the situation since the weekend and he advises residents in low lying areas to do the same as recent rainfalls can complicate matters.
Ramon Frutos, Acting Chief Meteorologist
“The general track of all the models combined have this thing moving westwards into southern Belize, so it is possible that tropical depression sixteen could intensify into a tropical storm tomorrow and if it reaches that strength before the tropical depression south of Puerto Rico, it will be called Marco. If the centre of tropical depression number sixteen remains offshore, then it is very possible that it could intensify into tropical storm tomorrow. That is something we will continue to monitor very closely and keep the general public abreast. What we are worried about in connection with this system is the rainfall it is bringing. The hurricane centre is predicting some four to eight inches of rainfall associated with tropical depression number sixteen as it moves over northern Honduras, north-eastern Nicaragua and southern Belize. In the hilly terrain and mountainous terrains of the region including southern Belize, they can expect rainfall in excess of fifteen inches and this amount of rainfall and the amount that we have been getting over the past couple of days could be very dangerous because it will cause rapid runoff and flash flood conditions in the hilly terrain of the Stann Creek, Toledo and even Cayo District. How early can this begin to materialize or occur? It could be as early as tonight or during the day tomorrow and Thursday night. My advice is for our citizens living in low lying areas close to rivers in the flood plains areas—because many of our communities in the south and central part of Belize are in the flood plains—should continue to monitor this very closely and begin to make preparations in case they need to evacuate and the evacuation could occur in the middle of the night so we should be prepared.”
District Emergency Committees have been notified of the storm and are on alert. As for the new Doppler radar, Frutos says it has been installed but it is still being tested and won’t be ready until the beginning of next month. The hurricane season closes at the end of November.
