05:00 AM CURRENT TEMP 79°F 26 °C PRESENT CONDITION MAX TEMP:79.8 °F | 26.6 °C MIN TEMP:77.5 °F | 25.3 °C SOLAR HEAT:0.0078 kJ/m2 SOLAR RAD:28.0 W/m2 TODAY'S RAIN:0.6 mm WIND:N | 0 knots PRESSURE:1009.1 hPa HUMIDITY:N/A
Unusual strong winds and high tides cause flooding and beach erosion in San Pedro Town
A combination of high tides and unprecedented waves have battered the eastern coast of San Pedro Town over the past few days. The situation, believed to have worsened by the bands of a tropical weather disturbance in nearby Mexico, caught the attention of the local authorities when strong winds and massive waves caused flooding and erosion in areas along the beach. Apart from some low-lying areas getting flooded in the Boca del Rio and San Mateo subdivision, significant erosion was reported on the beaches.
The choppy conditions of the sea and the gloomy weather is attributed to bands from Tropical Storm Cristobal, which continues to spin east of Mexico. This storm is expected to emerge into the Gulf of Mexico by Friday, June 5th. Although the strong winds and high waves caused alarm, no one was reported injured, and no major material losses were reported. A similar situation was also experienced in Caye Caulker, where residents in some areas in the Bahia Subdivision witnessed the flooding of their yards and nearby streets. Islanders are advised to take any necessary precautions and to listen to official sources only during this hurricane season, which began on June 1st.
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Bad Weather Blows Through Belize and Mexico
For the past few days, we've been telling you about how Tropical Storm Cristobal, which is currently pounding Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, has also been dumping excessive rains on different parts of Northern and Central Belize. The storm is currently moving over the eastern parts of Mexico, and may threaten the US Gulf Coast over the next few days. Amateur footage captured earlier this morning in Cancun, Mexico shows the heavy rains and winds hammering that popular tourist destination.
Cristobal has been causing bad weather for other Central American countries, including Belize, and last night, heavy rains caused major flooding in the Orange Walk and Corozal District. The National Hydrological Service, within the Ministry of Natural Resources, has been warning that the Rio Hondo was dangerously close to flooding over its banks. This morning, residents of Douglas and Shipyard woke up to these floodwaters inundating their communities. The Guinea Grass Road was also barely passable this morning.
We are told that floods made their way into the village, as well as areas in and around Yo Creek. The floods also caused the road to break at Mameyal Curve; that was due to a culvert that collapsed.
Also, the Sarteneja Road, near the Pueblo Viejo Ferry was inundated. We've also seen images of floods happening near Rio Bravo, at the Blue Creek Hydro dam.
Residents living near cane farms in the Orange Walk District have also sent us footage of the high flood levels covering the cane fields and turning them into small lagoons.
The National Hydrological Service released a report today said that the Blue Creek Sub-catchment of the Rio Hondo remains above the levels seen during Hurricane Mitch. It is rising again due to last night's rains. Levels at Santa Cruz, Douglas, San Antonio, and San Roman continue to rise. The New River at Caledonia also continues to rise steadily.
Weather experts say that later into the weekend, residents in the north should see improved weather conditions, as Tropical Storm Cristobal heads to the US Gulf Coast.
The TS CRISTOBAL is moving away fast, leaving a string of clouds behind it, a little but not much rain for Belize, but a lot of rain near Cuba and going towards north Florida.
Looks as if our day will be a mixture of sunshine and cloud, some heavy, with a chance of some rain later.
Temperatures in Belmopan : ( Coast usually cooler, hills even cooler ) Last night min. 27°C 80°F Yesterday max. 34°C 92°F Yesterday Rain 1.2 mm ( 0.1")
TS CRISTOBAL has rapidly intensified and moving north fast. I hope you can't read the dates on the hurricane peoples chart, because they are badly wrong. and the indicated speed very wrong. It would not surprise me if this does not even reach Hurricane wind speeds over the next day.
They say it is going towards New Orleans, but the main heavy rain area is going towards north Florida.
There is significant mid and high level cloud from the SSW but very little surface air movement at present. I suspect the easterly Caribbean wind will later, start to push back against the westerly winds to the west of north Belize. Presently, no indication of rain. The sun is out, TS Cristobal moves away into the Gulf of Mexico.
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