TROPICAL STORM MATTHEW CONTINUES WESTWARD TRACK
Tropical Storm Matthew continues on a westward track in the south-central Caribbean Sea. Packing maximum sustained winds of forty miles per hour, The Tropical Storm is making a bee-line for the north-eastern coast of Honduras. The storm should then emerge in the Gulf of Honduras near the Bay islands after midday on Saturday. Forecast models show Mathew heading straight for Belize and should reach our coastal waters by midday on Sunday. Forecaster Michael Gentle is on duty at the Belize Weather Bureau.
Michael Gentle; Forecaster
"It's likely to be over our coastal waters by midday Sunday. At that time it could likely intensify to at least a minimal hurricane. The category one hurricane is characterized by winds seventy four to ninety miles per hour."
But these are only projections. Given the right circumstances, Mathew can reach Belize's shores a stronger storm.
Michael Gentle
"The water over the northwest Caribbean is fairly warm right now so they are looking at the possibility that that could be one of the scenarios. The other possibility is if it remains low over Honduras and Nicaragua for a longer period of time then it can weaken further and then the strengthening phase would be delayed a bit."
And while Mathew is projected to cross through the northern most part of the country there is still a chance we could be spared.
Michael Gentle
"If it makes the turn later then it would likely cross our country before it starts to turn. If it makes the turn earlier then we would likely remain on the weaker side of the storm and we would get speared if the activity with it. But if it should continue and make the turn later then it is possible that we will get the full brunt of the storm."
In the meantime, the forecast is for several inches of rain.
Michael Gentle
"The rainfall projections presently were projected for the first land fall that would be over north eastern Honduras and Nicaragua. They were predicting between six to ten inches of rainfall for that area. We can see similar amounts with a second landfall in our area and this rainfall sometimes gets enhanced by a higher elevation so in our case it is the Maya mountains in the south so we need to monitor the situation with that as we could still get some higher rainfall in these areas."
Gentle says warnings should be raised as early as tomorrow.
Michael Gentle
"Our warning area starts as eighty degrees west. It would likely be in our area as early as by tomorrow morning and by that is when we go into our first phase. The next phase is when it crosses eighty degrees west when we go into phase two or the watch phase. The second phase you would usually say that you have thirty six hours warning time. With the third phase twenty four hours lead time for warning."
Belizeans are advised to monitor the storm and keep updated on its progress.
Michael Gentle
"We need to stay in tuned to latest advisories as they come out. The advisories from the hurricane centre are issued every three hours and we usually relay that to the public and as soon as NEMO sets their process into action then we start getting advisories from NEMO also as to shelters and there is need for evacuation and things like that."
Again viewers are asked to stay tuned to your radio and do not listen to rumours.
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