Hurricane Tomas lashed St Vincent and St. Lucia last night after roughing up Barbados earlier in the day, leaving behind billions of dollars in damage in the eastern Caribbean. Tomas has slowed in forward momentum, which is not good news for Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic or even Puerto Rico as the prediction of its path is pretty wide.
Prediction map from wunderground.comThe general consensus among the various models is that it will re-curve northward before reaching 75W which is bad news for the twin nation island of Hispaniola, especially Haiti which is still recovering from a devastating earthquake and now battling an outbreak of cholera. A late turn could also mean trouble for Jamaica as it could slam right into Jamaica, coming ashore between Morant Point and traversing the length of Jamaica. Tomas is currently a Category 1 hurricane but will strengthen significant over the next 4-5 days as it travel over exceptionally warn Caribbean waters with little or no shear to counter it. One model has it continuing west, passing south of Jamaica before curving slightly southward to slam into Nicaragua.
Jamaica is ill-prepared to handle a hurricane right now much less one at a strength of category 3 or 4, as we have been having rains constantly throughout the summer and took a proper soaking last month from tropical Storm Nicole. Widespread flooding and loss of lives resulted from 3-4 days of constant rain, but we can expect even more flooding and loss of life if 150+mph winds are added to the equation.
The country is in a pickle,the damage from Gustav is expected to be about $ 20 billion. For a country under a tight economic constraints, we can ill-afford what will be the resultant destruction from a cat 3 or 4 hurricane. Prime Minister Bruce Golding is to meet with the various relief agencies tomorrow morning at 9 am after which he will announce to the nation steps being taken to prepare the country. I think it would have more prudent to meet with them today as time is precious. Plans need to be in place to evacuate people from flood prone areas and open up relief shelters before it starts raining.
Sunday October 31, 2010 11am update
This latest forecast takes into consideration steering currents as a result of a low pressure building up in the western Caribbean re-curving the storm to the north and then north-east, which is not good news for Haiti and Dom Rep.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
damage in St. Vincent (Barbados Nation)
Jamaica is ill-prepared to handle a hurricane right now much less one at a strength of category 3 or 4, as we have been having rains constantly throughout the summer and took a proper soaking last month from tropical Storm Nicole. Widespread flooding and loss of lives resulted from 3-4 days of constant rain, but we can expect even more flooding and loss of life if 150+mph winds are added to the equation.
The country is in a pickle,the damage from Gustav is expected to be about $ 20 billion. For a country under a tight economic constraints, we can ill-afford what will be the resultant destruction from a cat 3 or 4 hurricane. Prime Minister Bruce Golding is to meet with the various relief agencies tomorrow morning at 9 am after which he will announce to the nation steps being taken to prepare the country. I think it would have more prudent to meet with them today as time is precious. Plans need to be in place to evacuate people from flood prone areas and open up relief shelters before it starts raining.
Sunday October 31, 2010 11am update
This latest forecast takes into consideration steering currents as a result of a low pressure building up in the western Caribbean re-curving the storm to the north and then north-east, which is not good news for Haiti and Dom Rep.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
