ODPM: Don’t panic over Atlantic cyclone

The Met Office emphasised that at present, TT is not under any tropical cyclone threat, watch or warning.

“The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service is closely monitoring this weather system and will issue another bulletin at 6 p.m.

today or sooner if the situation warrants.

“Citizens must not panic and (must) resist following any media, social media posts or unauthorised messages which are not disseminated by the TT Met Office or published on the ODPM’s social media platforms.” The agency advised citizens to be vigilant and practice the normal precautionary 72 hour protocol of preparation by keeping emergency kits and supplies at hand.

“Please continue to safely conduct your daily activities and pay attention to relevant advisories from the authorised agency in Trinidad and Tobago, the TT Met Office.” The ODPM urged citizens to download its mobile application (app) to obtain emergency contact numbers, shelter locations and TT Met Office bulletins.

The statement said the ODPM and all relevant agencies are together preparing for any incoming weather, as they closely monitor this weather event through TT Met Office’s advisories. The ODPM promised to issue further bulletins on a timely manner to advise the public of any further developments.

The Met Office first issued its bulletin #1 on Sunday.

The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami, Florida, posted on its website yesterday that showers and thunderstorms associated with an area of low pressure, located about 1,100 miles east-southeast of the Windward Islands, continue to show signs of organisation.

“Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for development, and a tropical depression is likely to form around mid-week while the low moves westward to west-northwestward at 15 to 20 miles per hour (mph),” the NHC said.

A tropical depression is a type of cyclone, which is a rapidly rotating storm system with a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral pattern of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain.

Cyclones rank from depression, up to storm, up to hurricane / typhoon.

The NHC advised all interests in the eastern and central Caribbean Sea, and the northern coast of South America, to monitor the progress of this system.

“Regardless of development, heavy rains and strong gusty winds should spread over the Windward Islands and portions of the southern Lesser Antilles beginning late Tuesday or Wednesday,” predicted the NHC.

The website at 8 am said the chance of formation of a depression over 48 hours from yesterday morning was “medium” or 60 percent. However the chance for formation in the next five days is high at 90 percent.

By 2 pm, the NHC’s fresh bulletin said the disturbance was now just 950 miles away, with an increased chance of turning into a cyclone, possibly bringing storm winds to the Eastern Caribbean island chain by late tonight (Tuesday) or early tomorrow (Wednesday).

“Regardless of development, heavy rains and strong gusty winds, possibly to tropical storm force, are expected to spread over the Windward Islands and portions of the southern Lesser Antilles beginning late Tuesday or Wednesday,” said the NHC’s update. “An Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft is scheduled to investigate this disturbance on Tuesday afternoon.” The formation chance over 48 hours increased to “high” at 70 percent, and over the next five days is also “high” at 90 percent.

Yesterday at 8 am, the TT Met Office issued “Bulletin #2” on the Area of Disturbed Weather east of the Southern Windward Islands.

“The centre of an area of low pressure associated with an active Tropical Wave was located approximately 1,770 km east-southeast of the Windward Islands, moving west to west-northwest at approximately 30 kilometres per hour (km/h),” it said.