BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – (Nov. 8 - 2:25p.m.) - THE St. Kitts Meteorological Office has advised that the flash flood warning earlier issued for St. Kitts and Nevis has been reduced to a flash flood watch.
It has advised that the watch remains in effect until 8:00p.m. today and it is possible that "a few light to moderate scattered showers" would be experienced this evening.
Despite the downgrade in the flash flood status, the public is still being urged to exercise caution with watercourses and landslide-prone areas.
(Nov. 8 - 10:24a.m.) - THE flash flood watch under which the Federation was placed, has been upgraded to a flash flood warning and in excess of four inches of rain has already been dumped across the islands.
The St. Kitts Meteorological Office (Met Office) informed earlier this morning (Nov. 8) of an upper level low-pressure system “coupled with a surface trough which affected the Leeward Island(s) (creating) the instability over St. Kitts and Nevis”.
The “instability” consisted of moderately high winds and torrential rainfall and thunderstorms.
The Met Office advised SKNVibes that between 8:00a.m. yesterday and 8:00a.m. today, a total rainfall of 115.88mm or 4.6 inches has been recorded.
Via a release, the Met Office indicated that a flash flood watch is in effect for the Federation but a subsequent release indicated that that has been upgraded to a warning which is in effect up until 2:00p.m. today.
When that time shall have arrived, the conditions would be assessed and the status reviewed if necessary.
“…Conditions are expected to remain cloudy to overcast for most of the morning with a gradual improvement as the day progresses due to the effect of the surface trough…Persons are asked to exercise caution when crossing the ghauts and waterways especially if they are flowing.”
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has further advised the public “to refrain from approaching areas that are prone to rock and landslides unless absolutely necessary, as the potential for impact is increased because of continual rainfall over the last 24 hours”.
Over the course of the day, conditions across the islands are expected to improve however “isolated scattered showers (are) possible… Accordingly, persons are asked to be cautions when travelling along the wet roads and to keep informed by tuning in to local electronic media as the weather conditions can change with little or no warning…”
