Ministry monitoring weather pattern which can bring significant rain – Ramsammy

The Ministry of Agriculture this evening said it is monitoring a weather pattern that if it stays on course will bring significant amounts of rain tonight and into the morning for various coastal communities.

In a statement, Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said that while tomorrow afternoon may improve, some communities could still have a rainy afternoon.

He said he hopes that the weather event moves away from Guyana’s Coast, “but the movement seems to indicate a major weather event for Guyana.”

The Hydrometeorological Department of the Ministry of Agriculture has come under fire in recent years for failing to provide advance warning of severe weather systems, the most recent being two weeks ago. Critics have said that its expensive Doppler radar system funded by the European Union should give several hours warning of approaching bad weather.

The Ministry’s weather forecast follows:

WEATHER: Mostly cloudy conditions were experienced throughout Guyana today. Some Near Inland locations of Regions 7 and 10 also experienced isolated thundershowers during the afternoon hours.

Forecast, Friday, November 28 (evening) to Thursday, December 4, 2014 (day)

Tonight: Coastal areas can expect partly cloudy conditions becoming cloudy to overcast as the night progresses. Frequent showers, intermittent rain and possible thundershowers are also likely in the early morning hours. Rainfall is forecasted to be between 10 mm and 50 mm with the maximum over Regions 4 to 6. Near Inland to Inland locations can expect partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with showers accumulating between 10 mm and 20 mm of rainfall. All other areas can expect fair to partly cloudy conditions with a few passing showers. No significant rainfall is expected.

Tomorrow: Cloudy to overcast conditions with moderate to heavy showers and isolated thundershowers are expected to prevail along the Coast. Rainfall is likely to be between 20 mm to 60 mm. These conditions are expected to improve as the day progresses. Near inland to Inland locations are expected to have partly cloudy conditions becoming overcast as the day progresses. Moderate showers with isolated thundershowers are also likely, especially during the afternoon hours. Rainfall is expected to be between15 mm and 30 mm. Interior locations can expect partly cloudy to cloudy conditions, however, no significant rainfall is expected.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy conditions with showers and thundershowers are expected to prevail over Coastal areas. Rainfall is expected to range between 10 mm and 40 mm. Near Inland to Interior locations can expect partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with light showers. However, Near Inland to Inland locations can also expect the afternoon to be cloudy with showers and possible isolated thundershowers. Rainfall is likely to be between trace and 20 mm with the maximum occurring over Near Inland locations.