Gully in Old Harbour region in spate, as Tropical Storm looms

Residents of Nightingale Grove and Bushy Park will go into the night with trepidation as the banks of the river are on the verge of overflowing.

Since daybreak many parts of the country have been experiencing intermittent showers, moderate to strong at times, as a potential tropical cyclone, which could become Tropical Storm Vince if forecasters’ predictions come true.

At 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (3:00 pm Jamaica Time), the National Hurricane Center issued an update, stating: “Tropical storm conditions are possible across Jamaica, southeastern Cuba, Haiti, the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands through Saturday and tropical storm watches are now in effect for these areas.

“Heavy rains will affect portions of Panama, Costa Rica, Jamaica, southeastern Cuba and Hispaniola through Monday morning. This rainfall is likely to produce flash flooding, along with mudslides and areas of higher terrain.”

An hour later the Meteorological Service of Jamaica declared a Tropical Storm Watch for the entire island, as well as a flash flood warning for the island’s southern coastal belt from Westmoreland to St Thomas.

“Maximum sustained winds are near 55 km/h (35 mph) with high gusts, Strengthening is forecast during the next few days, and the system is expected to become a tropical depression tonight and tropical storm on Friday.

“On the forecast track, the centre of the system is expected to continue moving towards Jamaica tonight and across the island late on Friday before moving towards southeastern Cuba and the Turks and Caicos Islands on Saturday.

“While the potential tropical cyclone is in the vicinity of Jamaica, it is expected to produce locally heavy rainfall and strong gusty winds, primarily over eastern and southern parishes tonight and tomorrow. Flooding has already been reported in the southeast of the island and will spread over southern and eastern parishes in the next 12-24 hours. Landslide should also be anticipated in vulnerable sections of the island.”

It is highly likely, therefore, that in the hours ahead reports of flooding will increase. And though it has become somewhat of a norm for the affected communities whenever it rain like this, it’s an inconvenience they all could do without.

While residents along the Coburn gully are unlikely to sleep sound tonight, the same can be said for persons living in the surrounding areas of Big Pond and sections of Old Harbour Bay.

Meantime the impact of the deteriorating weather conditions has forced several schools to suspend classes early today, among them St Catherine High, Glenmuir High and Old Harbour High.