After a third consecutive day of rainfall on Monday, the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) extended the Adverse Weather Alert for the country until noon Tuesday.
In their update on Monday afternoon, they said, “Sporadic showers of varying intensities are expected to continue over the next 24 hours. A medium to high chance of heavy showers and/or thunderstorms still exist which can produce rainfall accumulation in excess of 25 mm in a few areas.”
The TTMS added that Trinidad and Tobago could experience gusty winds in heavy showers or thunderstorms, street/flash flooding and localised ponding in heavy downpours, agitated seas in sheltered areas and landslides in elevated areas.
The Adverse Weather Alert’s level was lowered from Orange to Yellow, meaning that moderate impacts are now expected across the country. Their guidance on their Multi-Hazard Early Warning system suggests the potential for possible injuries at this alert's severity level, with behavioural changes required to ensure safety. There may be minor property damage, with income-earning temporarily disrupted, and some communities may be affected.
Meanwhile, the Met Office maintained the Orange-Level Riverine Flood Alert for the South Oropouche River and Caroni River, as well as surrounding areas, dropping the alert for the North Oropouche River, the Ortoire River, the Nariva River as well as the Dam and Reservoir, and the Caparo River. These areas, now dropped from the alert, continue to flood, with parts of the Ortoire River Basin recording up to five feet of water in some areas.
According to the Met Office, this new alert is also in effect until noon Tuesday. They said, “River levels of both the Caroni and South Oropouche Rivers are near or above threshold values and surrounding communities are at moderate to high risk. Further rainfall into these areas may further overwhelm these water courses and delay run-off.”
The Met Office said that runoff will be slower at high tide, which is at 8.52 am Tuesday.
For an Orange-Level alert, severe impacts are expected in the Caroni and South Oropouche River. This means there is the potential for a loss of a single life or serious injuries; physical defences are needed; major losses are possible in confined areas, income earning is impossible for several days, and several communities are affected where external help is needed for recovery.
It said the public should finalise preparations to protect lives, livelihoods, and property, activate safety plans, secure food, water, and medicine for at least seven days in waterproof containers, and protect important assets and documents and not take unnecessary risks.
