Tropical Cyclone Nineteen Threatens Caribbean, Belize on Alert for Potential Impact

At this hour there is a weather system in the Caribbean that has the National Hurricane Center issuing hurricane and tropical storm watches for portions of Honduras and Nicaragua.  For now, it is referred to as Tropical Cyclone Nineteen with a ninety percent chance of strengthening.  Our local authorities have not issued any warnings but they have arranged for a press conference tomorrow morning at nine o’clock.  According to Brian Shields also known as Mister Weatherman, there is no definite direction once the system develops but Belize would be affected either way.

Brian Shields, Meteorologist “Mr.Weatherman”: “And all of the models are in agreement with them. The American model, European model, Canadian model, the German model all have this area that I just showed you becoming a hurricane and then sitting in the Western Caribbean for several days just kind of wobbling around. And with that, that’s why it’s going to be such a high impact event with the wind and with the rain where it goes. So let’s start with this. The most likely path as it stands now. And look how different this is, I mentioned an historic type of a situation. I don’t say that lightly. One of the things we’re gonna see that as different is that it is actually gonna slow down. Let me take you through it here. So for today, this area is right near Jamaica. We’re gonna see scattered areas of rain, even some isolated flooding possible in Jamaica. Then tomorrow, especially by late tomorrow, it should develop into a tropical depression or a tropical storm either way close to it. Over the next 24 hours, we’re gonna see some development as it continues. to make its way off to the West. And then as it moves more to the West on Friday, it will become a hurricane Friday and Saturday. Then Friday, Saturday and Sunday, this is why it’s so unusual, it is gonna be just either kind of stuck right in this area, just off toward the east of Belize, almost on top of a northeastern sections of Honduras in northeastern sections of Nicaragua for days and days. It is gonna sit there. That is gonna be a huge issue along the coast with the pounding surf, the significant flooding at the coast, and the very high rain totals where this kind of wiggles to. Then it won’t be until Monday that it makes its move, either into Belize or up toward the eastern end of the Yucatan Peninsula on Monday, still as a hurricane, hurricane conditions. Then after that, as it moves into the Yucatan Peninsula, it will eventually weaken some.”

Shields noted in his presentation that this is the time to begin with hurricane preparations, particularly for Honduras, Belize and Mexico.

Brian Shields, Meteorologist “Mr.Weatherman”:  “Same area that is in monitor mode, but some of us are now going to be in action mode watching Cuba, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Providencia, San Andres, Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, especially on the east side. This area is developing and it will be such a slow mover very close to Honduras. Now this is very important. I don’t do this channel to do anything flashy. I do it for safety. So this map is very important to me and most likely very important to you. This is where we need to start taking action for the potential of a hurricane. Now with that said, I want to be very clear. It doesn’t necessarily mean a hurricane is going to move right into Belize, for example, right? It’s going to be very close. I’m not sure yet, but we’re at the point where we need to take some action because even with some uncertainty in the track, it’s going to be such a strong hurricane that we can’t take chances. I hope that makes sense. I hope that’s very clear. I’m not positive on how it’s going to kind of wiggle around will stay off shore. Will it move right in? Not entirely sure, but it’s going to be a powerful hurricane. So northeastern sections of Nicaragua and northern and eastern sections of Honduras. Make those hurricane preparations now and preparations for intense flooding, especially along the coast, but inland right across our higher terrain especially as you build back through Honduras, the mudslide threat is going to be substantial. The landslides, whatever you want to call them. Belize up toward Cancun, Cozumel. So you get back toward the eastern end of the Yucatan Peninsula. So this does not include Merida and Campeche, but in these locations as well, start making some of those at least initial preparations for the potential of a hurricane moving in Sunday or Monday.”

The US National Hurricane Center has indicated that the system is forecast to approach Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico at or near hurricane strength by early next week where there is a risk of dangerous storm surge and damaging winds.  The center also noted that heavy rainfall will cause significant, life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides across portions of Central America, particularly Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, eastern Guatemala, and western Nicaragua.  Additionally, the disturbance is forecast to be near hurricane strength when it moves near the eastern coast of Honduras and northeastern Nicaragua on Friday and Saturday. Hurricane and tropical storm conditions are possible over portions of that area.  For residents in Belize City, Mayor Bernard Wagner told Love News that the city has remained in a ready-mode throughout the hurricane season.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City: “Our City Emergency Management Organization works very closely with NEMO and the Met office and we are closely monitoring the track of this system here. But we stand ready as a city. We hope it never comes to fruition, we never want to be impacted by any hurricane or disaster because the fact is that it really sets you back as a country and especially as a municipality that has its own struggles.” 

Love News is tracking the updates and will have more on this in tomorrow’s newscasts.