Strong winds in Felicity early Friday
By Chantalé Fletcher
A CLUSTER of thunderstorms approaching Trinidad and Tobago produced the heavy rains and strong winds experienced on Thursday night and early Friday morning.
The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) issued an Adverse Weather Alert Yellow Level on Friday between 12 midnight to 2pm.
The effects were felt from Toco to Icacos as in some areas there were sparking electricity lines and transformers, blown-off roofs and impassable roadways.
A press conference of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley in Tobago at 1.30pm on Friday was unable to be broadcast live on state television TTT due to power outages.
The press conference was streamed live via Facebook on the Office of the Prime Minister page and also shared on AZPNews.com social media pages.
TTMS stated, “There is a high potential for moderate to heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms to affect both Trinidad and Tobago and offshore areas from just after midnight tonight. Activity is expected to initially affect Tobago and gradually spread across Trinidad. While Tobago May begin to experience some showers before midnight, more impactful activity is expected as the night progresses.”
Below is a video of strong winds being experienced in Oropoune Gardens, Piarco:
In addition, street/flash flooding, localised ponding, landslides/lanslips and gusty winds in excess of 55km/hr are likely in areas of heavy showers or thunderstorms.
Several parts of the island have experienced strong gusty winds as high as 95km\h which resulted in fallen trees, power outages and ripped galvanize sheets from homes.
The Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government stated that the Valencia stretch was impassable to vehicular traffic on Friday. Members of the public are advised to use Little Cora or the Valencia Old Road to proceed to Sangre Grande, as the obstruction is currently being cleared.
Officials said that people who live in flood prone areas could contact their municipal corporations to access sandbags and mitigate the effects of flooding.
The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) reported “wide-area” outages on the North Coast, from Maracas to Blanchisseuse, Rampanalgas, Sangre Grande, Mathura and Tobago.”
T&TEC stated that restoration work was currently in progress.
There were also 80 power outages reported across the country following Thursday night’s gusty winds.
Meanwhile in Tobago, Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) reported damaged roofs in the Mount St George, Goodwood, and Pembroke areas.
TEMA has advised members of the public to call their office at 660-7489 0r 211 to report any hazard affecting their communities.
