The Hydrometeorological Service of the Ministry of Agriculture said that today there will be moderate to heavy showers and light intermittent rain over regions 1 to 5. Other regions can expect mostly cloudy skies with moderate showers. Thundershowers are likely over some coastal areas.
It said that rainfall is expected to range between 20.0 mm and 60.0 mm over regions 1 to 5. The highest is expected over regions 2, 3 and 4. Other regions can expect rainfall values between 5.0 mm and 20.0 mm.
The information was contained in a weather forecast which was released to the media yesterday. Previously the ministry had not been issuing these to the public and had been criticized for not providing warnings of severe weather considering that it had access to a Doppler radar.
It provided no warning of approaching bad weather on November 27 last year which left the city severely flooded. However on Monday night it issued a warning of likely heavy rainfall and followed this up with several bulletins and the detailed weather forecast yesterday.
The Ministry also provided an update yesterday on the flooding situation in the rest of the country.
It said that among the areas affected by water accumulation are:
Region 2:
* Pomeroon, particularly Lillydale, Marlboro, Martindale, parts of Jacklow, David James Scheme, Parts of Charity Housing Scheme and farmlands along the bank of Dredge Creek have been affected;
* Also, along the coast, Henrietta is affected only in low housing areas.
Region 3:
* Minor accumulation of water has been reported in low areas and drainage channels in Tuschen Housing Scheme, and low farmlands of Bagotville, Parika Back, and Vergenoegen;
* A pontoon has been deployed to dredge the Vergenoegen Outfall;
* Water levels in drainage system are reported to be high in Parika/Ruby, Vergenoegen, Blankenburg, Windsor Forest, Vreed-en-Hoop to Patentia including Canals’ Polder, La Retriate, Chantilly and Sambatch.
Region 4:
* Water levels in the drainage system are also reported to be high in in Georgetown, Montrose, Lusignan, Enmore, Hope, Greenfield and Huntley, Cane Grove. Also, high water levels are reported in drainage system of Friendship, Garden of Eden and Craig on EBD.
Georgetown
* 11 Sluices that discharge drainage water into the Demerara River are operational, the ministry said.
* Three of the five pumps discharging into the Demerara River are working. Pumps are located at:
* Riverview – Operational
* Princes Street – Operational
* Forestry – Operational
* JP Santos – Not Operable
* Lamaha Street – Not Operable
* Also Pumps located at Kitty and Liliendaal are Operational
Areas affected by flood waters are:
Bel Air, North and South Ruimveldt, East Ruimveldt, Newtown Kitty, Parts of Alberttown, Queenstown, Campbellville, Sections of Sophia and Cummings Lodge, La Penitence, Bourda and Tucville.
Tidal Conditions
The high tide today will be at 3.58 am and 3.30 pm
