More rains expected over the weekend and Belize City streets remain under water
It has been raining consistently for several weeks; in fact, it has been an above average rainy season with the measure of rainfall doubling in some areas. In the city, the overnight rain has caused heavy flooding in main arteries at the entrance of the city and Freetown Road. But just about everywhere, the streets are flooded. The problem is exacerbated by the lack of proper drainage. This morning, traffic was horrendous and News Five’s Isani Cayetano went out to find out what’s going on in the street and with the weather.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Torrential rains overnight have once again left the streets of the Old Capital under several inches of water. Motorists traveling along the Phillip Goldson Highway this morning were forced to slow down, as several stretches of water inundated the thoroughfare. The sustained downpour is the result of a weather system that remains stagnant over the country. According to the National Meteorological Service, more rains can be expected in the days ahead.
Derek Rudon, Meteorologist
Derek Rudon
“The rains started yesterday and we’ve been having this rain because of two systems, a trough of low pressure over the Caribbean which approached us from the east and a cold front stalled over the southern Gulf of Mexico. Basically what happens is that the system got blocked and moisture converged over our area.”
Undoubtedly, the rainy season so far has been above average. In the Toledo District, a little over sixty inches of rainfall was recorded between the months of August and October.
Derek Rudon
“At least for October and November it was similar systems to what we’ve been experiencing over the last two days. Cold fronts came down over the southern Gulf of Mexico and stalled and what those did they induced a moist northeasterly airflow over the area. So they stayed there for a few days and gave us some long periods of rain.”
Isani Cayetano
“What is the outlook going into the next few days?”
Derek Rudon
“We’re expecting these rains to continue through tonight and tomorrow a decrease. So tomorrow we will have some improvement starting and Saturday should be good but unfortunately the rains come back again on Sunday and Monday.”
Isani Cayetano
“Are there any precautionary measures to be taken by those living in the low-lying areas with regards to flooding or anything as a result of this heavy rains?”
Derek Rudon
“Well certainly people need to be alert and if you live by rivers and streams that flood quickly you need to especially be on the alert.”
Meanwhile, in Belize City, some parts of Freetown Road were completely covered in water delaying the flow of traffic considerably. While remedial works had been done earlier to address the issue of potholes, the issue remains persistent given the increased flow of traffic on main thoroughfares. The total rainfall for the month of November, measured in millimeters, amounted to three hundred and fifty millimeters at Central Farm. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
