Tropical Storm Matthew’s Eye trained on Belize

Eight days ago, a tropical storm blew across northern Belize. Except for the heavy rains and winds, there were minor damages and Karl moved on to Mexico where it did cause loss of life and significant damages. It’s an active season and tonight a weather system in the Caribbean has now become Tropical Storm Mathew and the projections are that the storm is heading directly our way. Indications are that heavy rains can be expected this weekend, starting on Saturday and the storm is expected to hit on Sunday morning. Both NEMO and CEMO have sprung into action and as a first step, school children are being required to stay home on Friday. The National Meteorological Service advises to be prepared. News Five’s Delahnie Bain reports.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

The National Met Service has had closely monitoring a weather system in the Caribbean for the past few days. The system strengthened and this morning it became Tropical Depression number fifteen.

Dennis Gonguez, Chief Meteorologist

dennis gonguez

“An active area of disturbed weather over the south central Caribbean at eleven o’clock this morning developed into Tropical Depression Number Fifteen.  At that time the system was located a hundred and eighty miles east-southeast of Belize City and was moving towards the west at fifteen miles per hour. The maximum sustained winds in that system was thirty-five miles per hour.”

When we spoke to chief meteorologist, Dennis Gonguez, he told us the bad weather is heading our way.

Dennis Gonguez

“Well, the forecast track takes the tropical depression through northeastern Honduras and eventually into the Gulf of Honduras. However, conditions are favorable for the system to intensify into a tropical storm before skirting the northeast coast of Honduras. After that it enters the warm Gulf of Honduras waters and potentials are there for it to develop into a hurricane before impacting us on Sunday morning.”

By three o’clock this afternoon, Tropical Depression fifteen strengthened to become into Tropical Storm Matthew and Gonguez says we can expect a wet weekend.

Dennis Gonguez

“The weather should start going downhill Saturday night as the system nears our area. So we should see some changes coming up this weekend, it could be a rough weekend for us.”

Delahnie Bain

“Any advice for the general public?”

Dennis Gonguez

“Yes, we need to remain alert and pay close attention to this system. It could intensify and it could be on top of us over the weekend so we need to have our plans in place so that we are ready to move whenever the order is given to evacuate.”

Delahnie Bain for News Five.