The MET office says that nearly one foot of rain has fallen in Central Belize as a result of the remnants of hurricane Iota. We spoke via zoom with the chief climatologist about the rainfall levels, and the prognosis for more floods as water comes down from higher elevations:

Shanea Young, Senior Climatologist
"So far up until about half an hour ago the most rainfall has fallen over the central and northern parts of the country with the highest rainfall recorded so far is around 11 inches near the Gales Point area and also around 10 inches around the western parts of the country near Central Farm in that vicinity. Up north the highest rainfall so far has been around 9 inches and when I say north I also include the northern offshore cayes of San Pedro, they have received about 9 inches so far up until now since Monday."

Reporter
"It seems that moist conditions continue certainly in central parts of the country."

Shanea Young, Senior Climatologist
"We are expecting rains to continue up until about Sunday, but with later today and also tomorrow and 2-4 inches of rainfall is expected over most areas. There should be a gradual decrease after tomorrow over the area. Additional flooding is expected because those rainfalls for instance that have fallen over the Cayo District have not reach the downstream areas of the Belize District as yet. So in the next coming days in addition to the additional rainfall that we are expecting, more flood waters should be making their way downstream."

Reporter
"So we have not seen the worst of it yet. It will continue to get significantly worse."

Shanea Young, Senior Climatologist
"In terms of flooding, yes, because those waters haven't made their way downstream as yet."

The hydrology department warns that the RIO HONDO at Blue Creek and downstream at Santa Cruz ARE AT FLOOD STAGE and continue to rise, while at San Antonio, San Roman, and Douglas, levels are approaching flood stage and continue to increase steadily.

On the MACAL RIVER, at Chalillo, Mollejon and Vaca facilities reservoir levels are above the spillways. At San Ignacio, Flood levels remains above the low-level bridge and continue to increase. On the MOPAN RIVER at Benque Viejo Town, flood levels continue to increase.

On the BELIZE RIVER, in the upper Belize River at Banana Bank and surrounding areas, Flood Levels are increasing, while in the lower Belize River, at Belize River Valley and surrounding communities, Double Run and near the Haulover Creek to the coast, flood Levels continues to increase. Levels on the SOUTHERN LAGOON near Gales Point Village are at Flood Stage.

The latest advisory from NEMO says that 235 persons are in shelters throughout the country, primarily in the Belize Rural area, namely Crooked Tree, Rancho Dolores, Bermudan Landing, Burrell Boom, and Lemonal and in the Cayo district at Calla Creek, and in Orange walk at Trial Farm.

Channel 7