Heavy rains cause floods, landslides

Reports of fallen trees, flash flooding and nine landslides were made to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) as a result of yesterday's inclement weather.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer Dave Williams told Newsday yesterday that the reports were made by the Diego Martin, San Juan/Laventille and Tunapuna/Piarco regional corporations and the San Fernando City Corporation. The issues, he said, did not warrant the ODPM's intervention and were dealt with by the corporations.

Meanwhile the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) in a bulletin said today's cloudy conditions with periods of heavy showers accompanied by gusty winds, thunder and lightning in Trinidad are due to an active Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

The conditions, which were expected to continue into tomorrow morning, are expected to improve by the afternoon.

The ITCZ is a belt of low pressure which circles the earth, generally near the equator where the trade winds of the northern and southern hemispheres come together. It is characterised by convective activity which often generates thunderstorms over large areas.

The TTMS said that the ITCZ was “being enhanced by favorable upper level conditions in the atmosphere.”

Given the forecast and the fact that the country is in the middle of the rainy season, the TTMS is advising citizens to be vigilant and exercise caution as they conduct their activities.

The TTMS also reminded that with the rainy season in effect, citizens must make adequate preparations to preserve life and property against adverse weather conditions.

“We wish to underscore that at this time Trinidad and Tobago is not under any tropical threat, watch or warning,” the TTMS said. The weather condition is not related to the passage of hurricanes Irma or Jose.

The TTMS warned of the possibility of electrical discharges from thunderclouds.

Owing to the heavy showers or thundershowers, the TTMS warned of possible street and flash flooding, and landslides and land slips in hilly areas.