Adverse weather not affiliated with tropical cyclone activity, says DDM

The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) has confirmed that the recent adverse weather conditions which have been affecting the territory are not linked to any tropical cyclone activity.

“Around this time of year is when we get the trade winds, we do get high winds and it is not related to tropical cyclone activity, but this is the sailing weather and this is also why this is the high season,” DDM’s Information & Education Manager Chrystall Kanyuck-Abel told BVI News.

She also said that during the winter season, the territory usually experiences rougher sea conditions than normal.

She further urged sea bathers to stay alert for riptides, which are common during these weather conditions and which can result in a fatal sea incident.

“This is the tide that can advance a swimmer sideways down the beach. So you are trying to swim into shore and the tide is pulling you down or up, alongside the beach,” Kanyuck-Abel said.

“It’s just another thing to consider that if you are swimming in the water to be careful of the riptide, and the safe thing to do is to swim parallel to the shore until you can get out of the riptide before you start swimming back into shore again. That way you don’t wear yourself out, fighting against the riptide,” she added.

Possible heavy showers late Wednesday night

Meanwhile in a Tuesday, January 21 weather forecast, the DDM said the BVI is expected to experience possible heavy rainfall over the coming days.

“A wetter pattern is forecast late Wednesday night into Thursday as a pre-frontal boundary moves over Puerto Rico and increase rain chances. The frontal-boundary, coupled with southerly wind flow, and upper-level support, will aid in the development of isolated thunderstorms and moderate to possibly heavy rainfall,” the DDM stated on social media site, Facebook.