Met Office: Yellow alert over tropical wave

The Meteorological Service has announced a national state of yellow alert for two days, due to the arrival of tropical waves.

The statement said the alert will last from 5 am on Wednesday till 4 pm on Thursday.

“There is a 70 per cent chance of heavy rain and thunderstorm activity associated with the interaction between a tropical wave and Intertropical Convergence Zone. Street flooding can be expected from heavy downpours and gusting winds of over 60 km/h. The seas can be agitated with electrical storms,” it said.

The tropical wave will affect marine areas mainly to the east and southeast of Trinidad and, to a lesser extent, Tobago.

Rainfall will be generally high. Showers and thunderstorms are forecast to start overnight and will continue through the end of the week, with cloudy periods.

Overall, the forecast is 50-100 millimetres of rain, with isolated totals of up to 200 mmover the next five days.

“There is a high threat of street flooding, flash floods and minor river flooding,” the report warned.

Waves are expected to reach up to two metres in open water for the next 24-72 hours, and up to 2.5 meters during the weekend.

Thetropical wave recently emerged from the African coast and is forecast to pass through the Lesser Antilles this weekend.