Tropical Storm Matthew; will it have an impact on Belize?

Tropical Storm Matthew has been moving erratically. This afternoon it reduced in strength and intensity as it swirled in the Gulf of Honduras and was downgraded to a tropical depression. But at last check, Matthew had regained strength and was located in Honduras. Winds have increased to forty-nine miles per hour and it is expected to have greatest impact in southern Belize. Rains and flooding are expected over the weekend and the country remains on alert. We have full coverage of the depression, and News Five’s Isani Cayetano has the first report from the National Met Service when Matthew had been downgraded to a depression.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

As Tropical Storm Matthew heads westward through Central America the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and the met department are wasting no time monitoring its development and projected path.  The threat level for the weather system remains high within the region, especially in Belize where torrential rains are expected when Matthew passes through the country over the weekend.  According to Forecaster, Derrick Rudon the storm is moving moderately and should make its way across southern and central Belize by Saturday evening.

Derrick Rudon, Forecaster, National Met Service

“Tropical Storm Matthew was centered near latitude fourteen point six degrees north, longitude eighty-three point zero west or about thirty miles south, southeast of Gracias Adios on the Honduras/Nicaragua border.  This position is also about four hundred miles southeast of Belize City and about four hundred miles east by south of Punta Gorda Town.  Maximum sustained winds were fifty miles per hour with higher gusts and Matthew was moving to the west at sixteen miles per hour.  Sorry at eighteen miles per hour.”

Despite its direction towards Belize residents in the city appeared rather nonchalant today with only a few businesses taking precautionary measures to secure their properties.  Rudon says the bulk of Matthew’s impact will be felt in the south.

derrick rudon

Derrick Rudon

“On the forecast track the tropical storm is expected to move over northern Honduras and [it has] weakened, like I said, to a tropical depression and then pass southern Belize sometime tomorrow.”

Isani Cayetano

“What can we expect from this weather system moving over southern Belize?”

Derrick Rudon

“Okay the main impact will be rainfall and flooding.  Since it is expected to weaken to a depression then the maximum winds will be less than thirty-five miles per hour.  So the main impact will be rainfall and the threat of flooding and we are expecting total, rainfall totals with this system of six to twelve inches with possibly higher amounts of up to eighteen inches over southern and central Belize over the next few days.”

Concerns have already been raised about the Kendal community along the banks of the Sittee River in South Stann Creek as it is a flood prone area.  Residents in low-lying areas are required to keep abreast with information coming from the relevant authorities.

Derrick Rudon

“For this weekend then people should one: they should stay in tuned to the radio and the local media for any updates from the weather bureau or from NEMO.  [Uhm] maybe down south they will open shelters [but] I’m not too sure of that.  NEMO will make that decision however as we speak there is a tropical storm watch for the coast of Belize, for the entire coast.  Last night it was a hurricane watch but this morning they downgraded it to a tropical storm watch.  So that is saying that tropical storm conditions are possible within the next thirty six hours.”

Channel Five will be bringing you regular weather updates throughout the course of the weekend. Isani Cayetano for News Five.