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Severe floods and landslides ravage the Eastern Caribbean

flood-st-vincent-grenadines-barbados-november-2016

A slow-moving low pressure field brought heavy rainfall to the islands in the Eastern Caribbean since November 28, 2016. The rains triggered severe flooding and landslides across the affected regions.

St Vincent and the Grenadines have suffered the worst severe weather impact, as about 220 mm (8.6 inches) of rainfall was reported in some regions by December 1.

About 26 homes suffered extensive damage while 15 others were destroyed while 8 bridges and 8 roads also sustained damage.

150 mm (5.9 inches) of rainfall was recorded on Barbados on November 29, causing some of the local independence festivals to be postponed. 45 mm (1.8 inches) of precipitation was reported at Vc Bird International Airport in Antigua in a period between November 28 and 29.

Numerous homes were flooded, and traffic was severely affected.

72-hr accumulated rainfall as observed by the GPM Core Observatory

72-hr accumulated rainfall as observed by the GPM Core Observatory. Image credit: Google/NASA/JAXA/GPM

North Windward Islands, flood damage - November 2016.

North Windward Islands, flood damage – November 2016. Credit: Senator Camillo M. Gonsalves

North Windward Islands, flood damage - November 2016

North Windward Islands, flood damage – November 2016. Credit: Senator Camillo M. Gonsalves

At the same time, 58 mm (2.3 inches) was observed at the Hewanorra International Airport in Saint Lucia, 68.8 mm (2.7 inches) was recorded in the period between November 29 and 30 while 72.5 mm (2.9 inches) was recorded between November 30 and December 1.

A flood warning was issued for St Vincent and the Grenadines on November 28. T

he Grenadines National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) has urged the residents situated in the landslide prone areas and along the riverbanks of Buccament Bay, Rose Place, South Rivers, Spring Village, Vermont, Roucher Bay, Mesopotamia, Sandy Bay, Georgetown, Mt. Young, Byera, Gorse, Chateubelair, Buddy Butter, Calliaqua, Barrouallie, Layou and Fitz-Hughes to remain on alert and exercise caution, as the soils have already been saturated with water.

142.24 mm (5.6 inches) of rainfall was received by the Convent, Spring Village, in the period between midnight and 19:00 on November 29 (local time) while 106.68 mm (4.2 inches) was recorded in Dalaway, Vermont, 220.98 mm (8.7 inches) in Jennings, Congo Valley, and 160.02 mm (6.3 inches) was reported in South Rivers at the same time, according to the Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA).

Featured image credit: North Windward Islands, flood damage – November 2016. Credit: Senator Camillo M. Gonsalves

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