The inclement weather conditions that have affected Antigua and Barbuda for the
past twenty-four hours are expected to give way to improvements in the weather
today.
The Met Office has forecast gradual improvements during today (Friday) as the
frontal trough that impacted the weather over the past 36 hours moves out of the
area.
The system brought heavy rainfall to parts of Antigua, especially in the south and
the central areas of the island. Barbuda recorded less than an inch of rain from the
system.
“A frontal trough is causing unsettled conditions over the Leeward Islands. As this
feature moves eastwards beginning overnight, a reduction in moisture will result in
gradual improving conditions over these islands by today,” the Met Office
reported.
The office is forecasting that today (Friday) will be mostly cloudy with a 60
percent or moderate chance of brief showers in the morning becoming sunnier in
the afternoon.
Forecaster at the Met Office, Lennox Josiah noted that the flash flood watch that
was issued on Wednesday was discontinued at midday on Thursday. While there
has been heavy rainfall in some areas, there have not been any reports of flooding.
The rainfall amounts up to 5:00 pm on Thursday are;
Coolidge 2.08 inches
Bethesda 1.22 inches
Cobbs Cross 1.38 inches
Diamonds 2.37 inches
Orange Valley 4.46 inches
Stadium 2.24 inches
Barbuda .96 of an inches
Crabbes 1.01 inches
Josiah explained that at this time of the year, the region is impacted by these
weather systems. The difference with this system that has been impacting the
islands very the past 36 hours, has been that there have been what he termed
‘enhancements’ and it was because of concerns rising out of this development that
led to the issuing of the flash flood watch on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the heads of NODS, Sherrod James, said his department had not
received any reports of flooding in any area, nor were there any weather-related
activities to report. “We opened a few of the shelters that are close to flood-prone
areas on Wednesday night. This was done as a precautionary move; however, no
one took up the offer to go to or to stay in these shelters,” he revealed.
In related developments, Director of Education, Clare Browne announced that the
school system is expected to return to normality on Friday. This after the entire
school system was shut down on Thursday due to the weather.
“We expect that we will be able to reopen the schools on Friday as our
information from the Met Office is that the weather will improve into today. In the
event that the anticipated overnight showers continue into Friday, then we may
have to revisit our decision,” he told Point Express newspaper.
The Sr Lester Bird Medical Centre suspended Outpatient Clinics (inclusive of
Rehab and Oncology) on Thursday due to the inclement weather. It also announced
that the suspension of services for the drawing of blood for tests will end today as
these services too, resume at the hospital.
