CAYMAN AT RISK OF SEVERE FLOODING THIS WEEK

Cayman is bracing for tropical storm conditions which are now highly likely by the middle of this week. A developing weather system which forecasters expect to eventually become a hurricane is spreading towards the Cayman Islands bringing severe flooding.

In an update, Kerry Powery, Chief Meteorologist with the Cayman Islands National Weather Service said: “ We’re closely monitoring a system over the Northwest Caribbean with moderate potential for development early next week ( of September 23rd). The public should rest assured that the government is closely watching the system and is well prepared to mitigate any risk that may arise.”

That assurance notwithstanding, Chief Meteorologist Perry further advised: “Our primary concern at this stage is the potential for flooding. We anticipate significant rainfall beginning this Sunday and possibly extending through Thursday. Current models predict approximately 5 to 7 inches of rainfall for Grand Cayman and 4 to 6 inches for the Sister Islands over this period.”

This is a significant amount of rainfall with a high risk of flooding for the low-lying and flood-prone Cayman Islands with the likelihood of not just disruption but individual financial and broader economic consequences.

Current forecasts suggest that in the coming days, the weather system driving the expected tropical storm conditions covers an area including the |Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Cuba moving to the north from out of the Western Caribbean/Yucatan area where it formed.

Most weather predicting models indicate that this system has the potential to develop into a hurricane after it passes the Cayman Islands. Before that the islands could be hit by tripical storm conditions with winds of up to 50 miles per hour and torrential rainfall between four and six inches.

According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) Hurricane Centre:

“A broad area of low pressure is likely to form during the next few days over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and the adjacent portions of Central America.  Thereafter, gradual development of this system is expected, and a tropical depression is likely to form as the

system moves slowly northward across the northwestern Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico through the end of the week.”

It advises that regardless of development, this system is expected to produce heavy rains over portions of Central America during the next several days. It is now also expected to impact the Cayman Islands as it moves towards the north.