Stormy weather; Met Service gauges tropical wave

Dark clouds loom over the battlefield on which the ownership of Telemedia will be decided. But the legal issue is not the only reason why the sky is expected to be dark throughout the weekend. A weather system that developed in the Eastern Caribbean has been slowly moving west.   The Belize MET Service has been tracking that tropical wave, which is expected to make landfall on Saturday. Will it have any effect other than dampen your weekend plans? News Five spoke to the Chief Met Officer as he completed his three p.m. report.

Dennis Gonguez, Chief Meteorological Officer

“There is an active tropical formation some five hundred and fifty miles east of Belize and presently it’s showing some circulation; however, the circulation has not reached down to the surface. The circulation is about ten or eight thousand feet above the surface. There is some circulation—a good signature to the system, however like I said the circulation has not reached the surface as yet and therefore it has not been categorized as a tropical depression. The system is heading towards the west at about ten, fifteen miles per hour. The present forecast tracks carry it just north of Honduras into southern Belize come midday Saturday. On that track, the system would not strengthen significantly because of interaction with the Honduran land mass. As a result, how I see it, it looks like worst case scenario is a weak tropical storm or a tropical depression on Saturday.”

Jose Sanchez

“Should we be looking forward to a lot of rains only in the south or the size of it will carry across the other portions of the country?”

Dennis Gonguez

“Well it is a small compact system at this time—it’s not even—the rainfall would not even extend over the entire country. We’re not certain of the track so we can’t tell exactly which part of the country the rainfall will be concentrated. But presently the tracks indicated that it is the southern parts of the country.”

Jose Sanchez

Dennis Gonguez

Though we are concern, there is no reason to panic?”

Dennis Gonguez

“Yes, we just need to be aware that something is out there and be prepared for when the word comes that there is a depression heading our way or a tropical storm heading our way and be prepared to take preventative actions so that to prevent bodily harm.”

Jose Sanchez

“What’s your advice for those mariners who intend to be out this weekend?”

Dennis Gonguez

“Well they have to pay attention to the bulletins that’s issued by the national meteorological service and eventually issued by NEMO probably tomorrow or come Saturday morning. So they need to pay attention to those bulletins and be aware that something is out there.”

Jose Sanchez

“So for those people intending to go to the cayes by boat over the weekend, Saturday would be a bad day?”

Dennis Gonguez

“That wouldn’t be a good idea. With a system heading our way, even if it doesn’t develop into a tropical depression or a tropical storm, with an active tropical wave of this magnitude heading our way; the seas would be rough. And you have to consider the rainfall also.”

Jose Sanchez

“When it comes to tracking, how good is our doppler?”

Dennis Gonguez

“Well the radar really assists us a great deal in tracking these systems. It has a maximum range of two hundred and fifty miles so we can see the systems whenever it comes within range. That’s what we use to pinpoint the centre of these systems as they head our way.”

Jose Sanchez

“In terms of communication with the national hurricane center, how does that really work for your office?”

Dennis Gonguez

“Well we have a direct line. We have a number that is not shared with the general public where we can speak to the forecaster on duty and we have a rap session and discuss the events unfolding.”

Jose Sanchez

“Will it be safe to say that we provide information to the hurricane center that they use?”

Dennis Gonguez

“We do because they uses, in the case of hurricane Richard, they used our radar data to help in the preparation of the bulletins that were issued back to us. We have been watching this system from it entered the eastern Caribbean and it looked even better as it entered the eastern Caribbean—better than it looked at this present time. We thought maybe it would have been a depression a long time ago however, conditions this side are a little more conducive to development and like I said the forecast track might just hinder it from developing into a full fledged hurricane.”

No advisories will be issued until the system becomes a tropical depression or tropical storm. However, the Met Office advises the public to keep informed as the situation may change.