Tropical Storm Watch in effect for St Vincent & the Grenadines

St Vincent and the Grenadines is under a Tropical Storm Watch.

At 5:00 pm today the St Vincent  and the Grenadines Meteorological Services stated that a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for SVG for  potential Tropical Cyclone Five (5) as the broad area of low pressure associated with a tropical wave has the potential to become a Tropical Cyclone (tropical storm) during the next few days. 

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are possible across St. Vincent and the  Grenadines within 48 hours.  

At 5 pm, the centre of the disturbance was located near latitude 9.6° north; longitude 43.7° west, or  approximately 1195 miles (1920 kilometers) east of the Southern Windward Islands. The system is  moving towards the west-northwestward near 21 mph (33 km/h) and this motion is expected to continue  with an increase in forward speed during the next couple of days.  

Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Environmental conditions  appear generally favourable, and the disturbance is expected to become a tropical storm tonight or  Thursday. On its present forecast track, the centre of the system is predicted to pass near or over  portions of the Windward Islands or the southern Leeward Islands on Friday. Showers, thunderstorms,  strong gusty winds along with rough seas are likely to accompany this system.  

The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) is urging all residents to:

∙ Ensure that all over hanging trees and branches are cut or trimmed and ensure that all outdoor  furniture are secured. 

∙ Clean or clear all drains around your property, ensure that roofs are securely fasten  and have materials on hand to secure glass windows and doors. 

∙ Stock up on food that won’t spoil easily and store clean drinking water to last at least three days.

∙ Make arrangements to stay with friends and family as your first option of seeking shelter.

∙ Make the emergency shelter your last option for seeking shelter, however if it becomes  necessary please note that all the COVID -19 protocols will be in place. 

∙ If you are going to an emergency shelter take your emergency kit with clothes, food and water to  last at least 3 days.  

∙ Create a family emergency plan.  

∙ Owners and operators of businesses are asked to put plans in place to secure goods, property and  equipment.

∙ Persons living in areas prone to landslides, flooding and storm surge are asked to exercise  caution and be prepared to evacuate if necessary. 

∙ Ensure that you secure your important documents (birth certificates, passports, deeds etc.)

∙ Keep listening for updates on the situation.  

The National Emergency Management Organisation is also reminding persons who are frequenting the  communities north of the Rabacca River up to Fancy that heavy rainfall can result in dangerous lahars  and mud flows and these areas remain restricted.  

Lahars (mudflows) continue to pose a dangerous threat to the river valleys surrounding the volcano  including Wallibou, Rabacca, Sandy Bay and Owia. Residents are asked to limit or avoid visiting these  areas at this time. 

The heavy rainfall can result in flooding, lahars and mudflows especially in areas that had significant  ash fall. Since the explosions ended on 22 April, 2021, remobilisation of ash, blocks, bombs and other  fragmentary materials by rainfall has produced mudflows (or lahars) which have in turn incorporated  material from the Pyroclastic Density Currents (pyroclastic flows). This has caused significant amount  of erosion in the lower valleys and in some cases have resulted in mudflow deposits now covering the  hot Pyroclastic Density Currents deposits, particularly in the lower parts of the valleys. 

It is expected that whenever rain falls, there will be significant steaming, particularly in the valleys  where Pyroclastic Density Currents have come down. The Pyroclastic Density Currents can result in  warm or hot mudflows, which will also steam. This means that it would not be unusual to have  significant steaming in some or all of the valleys on the volcano. Also, while this steaming would be  mainly focused in the upper parts of the valleys, due to the fact that the mudflows can also steam, the  steaming can extend all the way down the valley to the coastline. 

The National Emergency Management Organisation and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines  Meteorological Services will continue to monitor and provide update on the potential tropical storm.