Rina on the replay

In Cancun and Cozumel, residents and visitors are preparing for Rina, which has been downgraded from hurricane to a tropical storm. Belize was spared of Rina when it proceeded on the projected path towards the Yucatan Peninsula. In Corozal, where the effects would have been felt, fortunately, it never happened and Wednesday night was calm and uneventful much like Tropical Storm Harvey which preceded it in late August. At three o’clock today Rina had been downgraded to a tropical storm with wind speeds of up to sixty miles per hour.  But here’s an update; the weather system is on course to make its way back in our direction; however, it is not expected to wreak havoc if it ever makes landfall near Belize. Chief Met Officer, Denis Gonguez, explains.

Dennis Gonguez, Chief Meteorological Officer

Dennis Gonguez

“At this time Rina is heading towards the northeast coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and should make landfall near the Cancun and Cozumel area.  Then a cold front enters the Gulf of Mexico and begins to impact on the system pushing it towards the east.  Eventually the system weakens because of cold air wrapping into it, it weakens and the weaker system will be pushed southwards by the northerly winds behind the cold front.  So we’re looking at a sort of a U-turn and a much weaker system heading south.  Eventually it will become like a remnant low pressure area, the remains of Rina and as it heads southward it will continue to lose its tropical characteristics.  So if it ever does reach Belize it will be more of a rainmaker than anything else.”

Isani Cayetano

“In terms of any impact it had on the northern districts of Belize can you tell us whether or not there was any damage?”

Dennis Gonguez

“There was no damage on the northern sections of the country.  In fact, I had reports of very little rainfall over the northern sections of the country and I was expecting more feeder bands to pass through but apparently with Rina most of the showers and thunderstorms were to the north of the system.  So we didn’t feel any major impacts from Rina.”
“Are there any other weather systems out there that we should keep an eye on?”Isani Cayetano

Dennis Gonguez

“Well there are some thunderstorms near the northeast coast of Honduras; however, there is very low potential for those to develop.  It seems they will move inland over mainland Honduras before anything happens.  So at this time there’s nothing out there besides Rina making that U-turn and weakening as it heads southwards.”

We’ll have more in the weather report later in this newscast.