Dear Editor,
I refer to an article on page 3 of your issue dated Saturday November 22. The article which was captioned ‘No warning about record rainfall due to unusual weather patterns,’ sought to explain why no warning was given to citizens concerning the rainfall which inundated the coastal areas. While an accurate forecast would not have prevented the flooding, at least citizens would have been prepared.
There were more surprises to come. In the online edition of the same day, the Hydromet Office warned, ‘Hydromet Office predicting heavy rain on Sunday.’ The article went on to inform citizens that on Saturday the 22nd there would be cloudy to overcast skies over coastal and inland areas with light to moderate rain and isolated thundershowers. The forecast for Sunday 23rd, warned that the day would break with overcast conditions accompanied by moderate to heavy rainshowers and thundershowers over coastal and inland areas.
We all know that the forecast for both days was grossly inaccurate. On Saturday and Sunday there was excellent weather along the coast.
While all this was going on at the local Hydromet Office, AccuWeather.com and nasaweather.com were giving accurate reports and forecasts for our country and elsewhere. For example, the forecast for Saturday by both facilities predicted excellent weather along the Atlantic Coast as far as Belem in Brazil.
We are in the 21st century and the Hydromet Office should get its act together or give the citizens weather information which originates from facilities that are up to date and competent.
Yours faithfully,
Lloyd H Marshall