(TRINIDAD EXPRESS) Parts of Trinidad and Tobago are being lashed by heavy rains and winds as a weather system passes across the islands.
The Meteorological Service of Trinidad and Tobago is advising that although showery activity has diminished somewhat, it is expected to resume across broad areas of Trinidad and to a lesser extent over Tobago as the day progresses.
Thunderstorm activity is likely over varying areas as well.
The rainfall began on Sunday, and drenched spectators at the Caribbean Premier League finals at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.
The skies cleared long enough for the game to be completed, but by midnight, thunderstorms were sweeping the area.
MET OFFICE ALERT
The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) issued an Adverse Weather Warning #1 – Yellow Level for today (Monday 17th September, 2018) from 2:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The TTMS has advised that adverse weather is occurring in varying areas and would likely continue throughout the day which will result in street/flash flooding, gusty winds and landslides/landslips in areas so prone. This is due to an active Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) over the area which is interacting with a low level trough.
Persons residing or working in flood prone or landslip prone areas are urged to be extra vigilant and to take the necessary steps to preserve life and property. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) would like residents and visitors to Get Ready and Stay Ready by implementing the following steps:
- Pre-position sandbags around your property, especially if your area or property has a history of flooding or has been recently impacted;
- If there are signs that flooding is about to occur near your property, move important items to a higher floor if possible;
- After heavy rainfall, stay inside until water levels have subsided;