All public schools in Regions 2, 3 and 4 closed today

Heavy rain overnight and this morning has left deep flooding along the East Bank and East Coast Demerara and public schools in the city and regions two and three are closed today as a result.

A notice this morning from the Ministry of Education said:

“We are now learning  of other areas severely affected by flooding. The ministry I seeking your help to make the following announcement:

Due to severe weather conditions all public schools in Regions 2, 3 4(East Bank and East Coast) and Georgetown will be closed today.

We are advising parents and guardians of children in those regions to keep their children at home as schools will be closed. “

The rain has been heavy and unrelenting and like on previous occasions where severe weather systems have struck there was no warning from the hydrometeorological department of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Despite government’s massive clean-up of city drains and other infrastructure in the last two months, there is deep flooding in the city and garbage can be seen floating in many places.

Astronomer/consultant Alfred Bhulai in a comment said “My weather station recorded 130 mm of rain up to for the morning up to 6 a.m. That’s over 5 inches of rain. 4″ is considered a disaster here. It was 155 mm (= over 6″) by 8.30 a.m. The colour of the water was ominously looking like conservancy water.”

APNU today issued the following press release on the flooding:

“The flooding of wide swaths of coastal communities in Guyana is a clear indication that the Peoples Progressive Party Civic administration has failed to address infrastructure, environmental and agricultural development in a comprehensive manner. This is also a clear manifestation of the failure of the local government system.

A Partnership for National Unity-APNU sees this as an environmental catastrophe.

APNU calls on President Donald Ramotar, The Minister of Local Government, Mr. Norman Whitaker, the Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr. Roberson Benn, and the Minister Responsible for the Environment, Mr. Robert Persaud to immediately take action to alleviate this catastrophe.

APNU affirms that this flooding is a failure of governance.”

Meanwhile, the hydrometeorological department of the Ministry of Agriculture issued the following notice at around 10.30 am

 

Expected Condition: The outlook over the next six (6) hours: Regions 1 to 5 can continue to observe cloudy to overcast skies with moderate to heavy showers and scattered thunderstorms. Other areas across Guyana can expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with scattered showers. Rainfall values are likely to range between 5.0 mm and 50.0 mm over Regions 2 to 5. Other areas rainfall values are expected to range between 0.0 mm and 20.0 mm.

In an updated advisory at around 11 am, the hydromet department said that the highest rainfall reported was recorded at Strathavon in Region four (4) with 244.0 mm followed by Helena no. 2 also in Region 4 with 202.4 mm.

About yesterday’s rainfall, it said the following:

Yesterday’s rainfall: The Hydrometeorological Service as at 08:00 hours on November 20, 2014, received reports from a number of its rainfall stations across the country. These reports give a total accumulated rainfall between 08:00 hours November 19, 2014 to 08:00 hours on November 20, 2014. The highest rainfall reported thus far was recorded at Georgetown in Region four (4) with 186.6 mm. According to the data available from our Synoptic Stations, most of the rainfall experienced would have occurred during the early morning.

Its outlook for the next few days is as follows:

Weather Forecast for today:  Cloudy to overcast skies can be expected across coastal and inland areas with occasional to frequent moderate to heavy showers and scattered thundershowers. Other areas across Guyana can expect mostly cloudy skies with brief showers. Rainfall is expected between 5.0 mm to 50.0 mm. Highest rainfall is expected over coastal areas.

Friday: Cloudy skies can be expected in Regions 1 to 4 and 7 with frequent showers and scattered thundershowers. Other areas, partly cloudy skies becoming cloudy with scattered showers. Rainfall is expected between 0.0 mm to 45.0 mm.

Saturday: Cloudy to overcast skies with showers can be expected throughout Guyana with scattered showers over coastal areas with isolated thunderstorms during the morning becoming partly sunny into the afternoon. Other areas, isolated showers can be expected. Rainfall is expected between 0.0 mm to 30.0 mm.

Sunday: Mainly overcast skies can be expected throughout Northern Guyana with intermittent rain and scattered to occasional thundershowers. Rainfall intensities are likely to be moderate to heavy and accompanied by gusty winds. Southern Guyana, partly sunny skies can be expected. Rainfall is expected between 0.0 mm to 60.0 mm. Highest in areas of Regions 1 to 3.