Tropical wave puts T&T on alert

(Trinidad Guardian) The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) has placed all first responder agencies and emergency support organisations on alert, after a warning from the Met Office regarding a tropical wave east of T&T. According to the bulletin, an area of low pressure associated with an active tropical wave is located approximately 1,500km east of the southern Windward Islands and moving west near 25km/hr.

Over the next 48 hours, as this system moves closer to the Windward Islands, it is forecast to intensify and possibly become a tropical cyclone. The bulletin urged all interest in the Windward Islands and in particular, Tobago, Grenada and its dependencies, and Trinidad to closely monitor the progress of this system and further updates emanating from the T&T Meteorological Service.

“Current analyses as well as data from Numerical Weather Prediction models indicate that this area of disturbed weather has become better organised over the last 24 hours and environmental conditions are conducive for gradual development,” the bulletin stated.

It said that as of yesterday, T&T and Grenada and its dependencies were not under any tropical storm threat, watch or warning. In response to the Met Office’s bulletin, the ODPM advised citizens to monitor its Web site, Facebook page and all media for the most current information.