More than usual – Tropical wave expected today

Sharleen DaBreo. File photo

While noting that an approaching tropical wave is still likely to dump rainfall on the territory today (August 14), the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) said there seems to be an increase in the frequency of such weather pattern.

That observation is being declared on the heels of another tropical wave that battered the British Virgin Islands a week ago, causing flooding and landslides especially on the island of Tortola.

Director of the DDM Sharleen DaBreo said: “There seems to be an increase in the frequency of tropical waves developing in our area and, as we have seen, tropical waves can be intense enough to cause damage comparable to storms and hurricanes.”

She further stated that residents should be vigilant as well as mindful that August to November are considered peak months for heavy rainfall, tropical storm, and hurricane activity.

DDM, in the meantime, said forecasters at the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services are monitoring two tropical waves in the area.

“The first is expected to affect the territory later today, creating an unstable environment with a chance of scattered showers and a chance of a thunderstorm developing this afternoon.”

“The second wave, however, has the potential to be a bit more active and may create more thunderstorms and showers later this week,” added the DDM, which noted that its information is garnered from various sources.

Other disturbances

The DDM, in the meantime, said a large area of low pressure and a tropical wave are moving west at 15 miles per hour.

“Forecasters think one of these systems will become more dominant and absorb the other. Therefore, they will likely become one system. At this time, forecasters’ think the low pressure has the better chance of becoming the dominant system. It has a 50 percent chance of development.”

“If both systems are combined, the system is expected to track west to west-north-west over the next five to seven days. During the Friday-Sunday time frame, it is expected to either enter the eastern Caribbean or pass just north of the Lesser Antilles. The uncertainty regarding which system becomes dominant is making it more difficult to track,” the DDM further said.

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