Caribbean - Central America Weather

[Gustywind]

Ouch Gusty. Horrible.

When I say we have had no rain or wind, I want to reflect on what your island has been through.

Know Vieques is thinking about you. Back in 2005 - 2006 (I forget which year but MJ can help to date it) they sent a boat south along with donations from Vieques.

If you need anything, just ask.

Thanks to you, . You're right the pics are speaking about the nasty tail of rafael ! Guadeloupe don't forget you too! I don't know if all the schools will open tommorow, especially those from the southern Basse-Terre. Let's hope that all is ok. If i've more i will keep your informed.

[chrisjslucia]

Glad to hear everyone from here in all of the islands is ok. Rain was the main issue in St Lucia - with more in the north than the south this time. Waiting for Monday to find out how other parts of the country got on.

Dr. Jeff Masters posted this info on his blog earlier to day.

"Tropical Storm Rafael is intensifying, but is headed northwards away from the Lesser Antilles Islands, after bringing gusty winds and heavy rains to the islands over the past two days. Three-day rainfall amounts of 2 - 3" were common over the Leeward Islands, but the winds mostly stayed below tropical storm-force. Here are some of the peak wind gusts from Rafael and rainfall totals from Oct 11 through 10 am EDT October 14:

Barbados, 47 mph, 0.81"
Antigua: 37 mph, 3.66"
Martinique: 30 mph, 3.10"
St. Lucia: 39 mph, 2.07"
St. Martin: 45 mph, 2.56"
Guadaloupe: 36 mph, 2.51"
Dominica: 25 mph, 2.68"
St. Kiits: 34 mph, 3.47"

[msbee]

I think those rainfall totals are low. Since Friday night October 12th until this afternoon my rain gauge has measured about 7 inches

[cycloneye]

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
948 PM AST SUN OCT 14 2012

.UPDATE...
BROAD CIRCULATION AROUND TROPICAL STORM RAFAEL CONTINUED TO BRING
OCCASIONAL BANDS OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE
LOCAL WATERS AND PARTS OF ISLANDS DURING THE EVENING HOURS. THE
ISLANDS MOSTLY BEING AFFECTED WERE NOW CULEBRA...VIEQUES AND THE
VIRGIN ISLANDS...AS A LOW LEVEL ZONE OF CONVERGENCE CREATED BY
THE NOW PREVAILING WEST TO SOUTHWEST FLOW WAS NOW ALIGNED ACROSS
THESE ISLANDS AND EXTENDED FURTHER EAST ACROSS THE NORTHERN
LEEWARDS. WITH THIS PRESENT WIND FLOW EXPECT CONVERGING BANDS OF
SHOWER AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP
AND MOVE ACROSS THESE AREAS BRINGING PERIODS OF MODERATE TO
LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AT TIMES. FOR THIS REASON THE FLASH FLOOD
WATCH WAS EXTENDED AT LEAST UNTIL MIDNIGHT AS THE POTENTIAL FOR
PERIODS OF LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THESE AREAS AT
LEAST FOR NOW AND PENDING FURTHER EVALUATION. MINOR ADJUSTMENT WERE
MADE TO THE LOCAL WINDS BASED ON LATEST TJSJ 15/00Z UPPER AIR SOUNDING
DATA...LOCAL SURFACE OBSERVATIONS AS WELL AS DATA FROM THE SURROUNDING
MARINE BUOYS.

[cycloneye]

Good morning.


AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
506 AM AST MON OCT 15 2012

.SYNOPSIS...A BROAD CIRCULATION AROUND TROPICAL STORM RAFAEL WILL
CONTINUE TO INDUCE OCCASIONAL SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THROUGHOUT THE DAY. A MID TO UPPER LEVEL
RIDGE IS EXPECTED TO BUILD ACROSS THE LOCAL ISLANDS BY MID WEEK.

&&

.DISCUSSION...A BROAD CIRCULATION AROUND TROPICAL STORM RAFAEL WILL
CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE THE LOCAL AREA DURING THE NEXT TWO DAYS OR
SO. THIS WILL RESULT IN A MOIST WIND FLOW ACROSS THE LOCAL ISLANDS...
WHICH WILL INTERACT WITH LOCAL EFFECTS AND DIURNAL HEATING TO PRODUCE
SOME CLOUDINESS...SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS
OF THE LOCAL ISLANDS. A WESTERLY AND SOUTHERLY WIND FLOW WILL CONTINUE
TO PREVAIL TODAY AND TOMORROW RESPECTIVELY. UNDER THE PREVAILING
WIND FLOW...EXPECT PASSING SHOWERS ACROSS THE WINDWARD SIDE OF THE
LOCAL ISLANDS AS WELL AS AFTERNOON CONVECTION ACROSS THE NORTHERN
AND NORTHEASTERN PORTIONS OF PUERTO RICO MONDAY AND TUESDAY. TRADE
WINDS WILL RETURN TO THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY AS RAFAEL MOVES FARTHER
AWAY WITH AFTERNOON SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS RETURNING TO WESTERN
PUERTO RICO. A MID TO UPPER LEVEL RIDGE IS THEN EXPECTED TO BUILD
ACROSS THE LOCAL ISLANDS ON WEDNESDAY.

&&

.AVIATION...LOCAL FLYING AREA WILL BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE
CIRCULATION ASSOCIATED WITH TC RAFAEL THRU TUE WITH SW WINDS TODAY
BECOMING MORE SRLY TOMORROW WITH TRADES GRADUALLY ESTABLISHING
ACROSS THE BASIN ON WED. UNDER THIS STEERING FLOW TJSJ WILL BE THE
MOST FAVORED TERMINAL TO EXPERIENCE TSRA IN THE AFTERNOON. BY MID
WEEK...STEERING FLOW BECOMES MORE EASTERLY WITH JBQ AND JMZ THE MOST
FAVORED LOCATIONS FOR AFTERNOON TSRA. T-STORMS ACROSS THE LEEWARD
TERMINALS ARE EXPECTED TO DIMINISH LATER TODAY AS INFLOW FEEDER
BANDS WEAKEN WITH WINDS TURNING MORE FROM THE SOUTHEAST TONIGHT.

&&

.MARINE...SEAS OF UP TO 8 FEET EXPECTED ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
OFFSHORE WATERS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. AS A RESULT...A SMALL CRAFT
ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THESE WATERS. MARINE CONDITIONS
WILL SLOWLY IMPROVE TONIGHT.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SJU 89 77 90 78 / 40 0 30 0
STT 87 79 88 79 / 20 20 30 30

[msbee]

no sun today again, I guess.
still raining lightly here.
we had some flooding but luckily escaped with no serious problems

http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1 ... rten-.html

How are things in Guadeloupe. Gusty?

[cycloneye]

I found this information from St Kitts that was released on Sunday.

Oct. 14 -- As the high winds and rain of Tropical Storm Rafael continue to pummel St. Kitts several areas remain without electricity, Internet and phone service.

SKELEC informed consumers earlier today that crews continue to work to restore power to affected areas, many of which have been without power since Saturday (Oct. 13).

"Areas that are still without power are Lodge to White Gate; Crab Tree Sandy Point, St. Johnstons Village, Buckley's, Camps to Trinity, Lower Monkey Hill and areas of Frigate Bay. Several other localised (homes) areas are without power within the areas that currently are being serviced. Crews are working on all areas to restore service," the utility company said via press release.

It also informed that the early morning island-wide outage was due to damage to the Canada Feeder, which the company was working to repair.

"Crews are trying to overcome some infrastructural damage and gain access to the damaged area so persons in Conaree and Canada Estate and some in the Half Moon areas will be without power until we are able to get proper road access," the release stated.

SKELEC apologised for any inconvenience caused.

Meanwhile motorists are being cautioned to take extra care when driving on wet roads, and to reduce their speed considerably. Persons who ventured out to view the damage around Basseterre are being asked to stay clear of areas where Public Works crews are working.

"The Newtown Bay Road between the Craft House and the Fisheries as well as the Irish Town Bay Road between College Street and the Gardens Housing are closed to vehicular traffic.

"This closure is due to the deposit of sand and debris on the road. Crews are presently in the process of clearing the roads. Onlookers are cautioned to stay clear of these areas as your presence exposes you to injury and slows up the operations," the Traffic department informed.

There have been reports of major flooding in most of the island's ghauts and several vehicles have been washed away. Several small boats have also washed ashore.

Most commercial activity in Basseterre had ceased by Saturday evening, and several events scheduled for this weekend were postponed.

The RL Bradshaw International Airport remains open.

http://www.thestkittsnevisobserver.com/ ... afael.html

[cycloneye]

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
250 PM AST MON OCT 15 2012

.SYNOPSIS...THE CIRCULATION ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL STORM RAFAEL
WILL CONTINUE TO DISRUPT THE NORMAL TRADE WIND FLOW ACROSS THE LOCAL
ISLANDS FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THIS FLOW PATTERN WILL CHANGE THE
FOCUS OF THE CONVECTION THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS EASTERN SECTIONS OF
PUERTO RICO AND TOMORROW AFTERNOON ACROSS NORTHEAST SECTIONS OF
PUERTO RICO. MID TO UPPER LEVEL RIDGE IS EXPECTED TO BUILD ACROSS
THE LOCAL ISLANDS BY MID WEEK.

&&

.DISCUSSION...THE BROAD CIRCULATION ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL STORM
RAFAEL...NORTH OF THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON...WILL CONTINUE TO
CHANGE THE LOCAL WIND PATTERN ACROSS THE LOCAL ISLANDS DURING THE
NEXT FEW DAYS. THIS UNCOMMON...MOIST AND UNSTABLE WIND FLOW WILL
CONTINUE TO INDUCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
OVER THE LOCAL ISLANDS BUT ORIENTED DIFFERENT AS NORMALLY OCCURS.
THE WEST SOUTHWEST FLOW...FOCUSED THIS AFTERNOON CONVECTION ACROSS
EASTERN SECTIONS OF PUERTO RICO. IN FACT DOPPLER RADAR DETECTED
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ACROSS EASTERN SECTIONS OF
PUERTO RICO...INCLUDING THE SAN JUAN METROPOLITAN AREA EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON. A NORMAL TRADE WINDS FLOW PATTERN WILL RETURN TO THE
AREA ON WEDNESDAY AS RAFAEL MOVES FARTHER AWAY WITH AFTERNOON
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS RETURNING TO WESTERN PUERTO RICO. A MID
TO UPPER LEVEL RIDGE IS THEN EXPECTED TO BUILD ACROSS THE LOCAL
ISLANDS ON WEDNESDAY.

&&

.AVIATION...TKPK IS CURRENTLY STUCK UNDER A RAIN BAND ASSOCIATED
WITH RAFAEL WITH NOT SIGNS OF MOVING YET. ANOTHER WEAKER ONE IS
TRYING TO DEVELOP JUST SOUTH OF TNCM. THESE WILL REQUIRE CLOSE
MONITORING. OTHERWISE THE AREA IS MOSTLY IN THE RELATIVELY DRIER
AIR CIRCULATING INTO RAFAEL WITH FEWER SHRA/TSRA. WINDS SFC TO
FL200 W 15-25 KTS BECMG SW TONIGHT.

PASSING SHRA WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE INTO PUERTO RICO AND USVI TAF
SITES FROM THE WEST SOUTHWEST UNTIL AT LEAST 15/12Z INDUCING
PERIODS OF MVFR CONDITIONS ACROSS TJSJ...TIST AND TISX. TSRA
ASSOCIATED WITH OUTER RAIN BANDS OF TROPICAL STORM RAFAEL WILL
CONTINUE TO AFFECT TNCM AND TKPK TONIGHT...CAUSING MVFR AND TEMPO
IFR CONDS UNTIL AROUND 16/00Z. LLVL WINDS FOR TONIGHT WILL BE
MAINLY FROM THE WEST TO WEST SOUTHWEST AT AROUND 10 KNOTS.


&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
SJU 77 90 78 89 / 0 30 0 30
STT 79 88 79 88 / 20 30 30 30

[chrisjslucia]

I think those rainfall totals are low. Since Friday night October 12th until this afternoon my rain gauge has measured about 7 inches

I think you are right. From the water levels in the pools here, looked more like 5 inches than 2.

[cycloneye]

The SW winds of the circulation of Rafael have caused plenty of heavy showers in San Juan and the NE part of PR in the afternoon. The normal diurnal heating that occurs in the interior and west in the afternoons shifted to the NE. That will continue on Tuesday but by Wednesday the normal pattern returns to PR with the afternoon showers in the interior west. Also to let you know that the aftermath thread that is at active storms/invests forum will be merged with this one on Tuesday.In other words,you can continue to post here about any other reports from the islands in the aftermath of Rafael.

[Gustywind]

Since this morning Guadeloupe has back off the orange alert and go with a yellow alert for strong showers and thunderstorms. Things have improved siognificantly even if we have some briefs but sometimes heavy showers in some areas. Numerous but ... hopefully... minors floodings have occured the hour before at Capesterre when i was driving my car. Guadeloupe is trying to make a comeback after Rafael trauma, difficult one given the nasty damages he caused . Today, i was in the Southern tip of Basse-Terre and i can assume you that the situation is always worrying in some areas full of debris, trees, etc. Maybe a long week to clean to island

Thanks for all my friends, Guadeloupe love its carib neighbours , keep the faith hoping for the end of this nasty season!

Gustywind

[Gustywind]

More pics of Rafael damages.

http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.a ... 3diaporama

[Gustywind]

Cleaning, cleaning is the word on all the lips. The bad boy Rafael has gone but time is for wash the island.

SLIDE SHOW. Gourbeyre/Trois-Rivières. Put the cleaning...

by texts and Photos: Fl. B franceantilles.fr 15.10.2012

Southern Basse-Terre, landslides and other impacts due to the passage of the storm Rafael are numerous and sometimes impressive. This morning, the time was often cleaning, but the consequences of bad weather are still clearly visible.

http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.a ... 190354.php

[msbee]

we had another inch of rain here this afternoon.
I lost count but I think since Friday night that's over 8 inches of rain in my backyard

[Gustywind]

Troubles now with water in the butterfly island even if the situation improve quickly. See how Rafael bring troubles in our island


PRACTICE. No water to the faucet for 4 communes of Grande-Terre

franceantilles.fr 15.10.2012

The customers of the General of the waters of the localities of Pointe-à-Pitre, Les Abymes, the Moule and Saint-François, are currently deprived of drinking water. The return to normal is expected in early evening or Tuesday morning.


Due to a technical incident, customers of the General of the waters of the localities of Pointe-à-Pitre and Les Abymes - especially the areas of Chauvel, Raizet, Grand Camp, Miquel, Lauricisque, Besson, Baimbridge and surrounding areas -are currently deprived of drinking water. The return to normal is expected early evening.
Due to various incidents related to atmospheric disturbances this weekend, distribution of drinking water is interrupted on the localities of Moule and Saint-François, disturbed in the locality of Sainte-Anne, the heights of Abymes and Grands-Fonds Abymes. Disturbances are likely to appear on the heights of the Gosier.
The incident is being resolved, the return to normal will take throughout the day from Monday to Tuesday morning for some high points of the Moule and Saint-François.

[Gustywind]

http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.a ... 190333.php

[Gustywind]

WEATHER FORECAST. Yellow vigilance maintained tonight

franceantilles.fr 15.10.2012
http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.a ... 189821.php


A few showers from time to time through the archipelago, dating back from the South. These disturbed areas are always guided by the tropical storm. They are interspersed with periods of calm.


A few showers from time to time through the archipelago, dating back from the South. These disturbed areas are always guided by the tropical storm. They are interspersed with periods of calm.
Tropical storm Rafael stood at 1700 local hours 750 km to the North-West of Saint-Martin. At the rear, disturbed areas (spiral bands) always concern our islands.
Already observed rollups and the current state of soils, more sustained or prolonged showers may cause new overflows or flooding.

[msbee]

We had a heavy downpour this afternoon which gave us another inch of rain.
However, the weather looks like it is starting to clear..
and ,as they say, after the storm comes...

[msbee]

WEATHER FORECAST. Yellow vigilance maintained tonight

franceantilles.fr 15.10.2012
http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.a ... 189821.php


A few showers from time to time through the archipelago, dating back from the South. These disturbed areas are always guided by the tropical storm. They are interspersed with periods of calm.


A few showers from time to time through the archipelago, dating back from the South. These disturbed areas are always guided by the tropical storm. They are interspersed with periods of calm.
Tropical storm Rafael stood at 1700 local hours 750 km to the North-West of Saint-Martin. At the rear, disturbed areas (spiral bands) always concern our islands.
Already observed rollups and the current state of soils, more sustained or prolonged showers may cause new overflows or flooding.

Gusty, hope things improve down there soon..

[Gustywind]

We had a heavy downpour this afternoon which gave us another inch of rain.
However, the weather looks like it is starting to clear..
and ,as they say, after the storm comes...

Very nice pic Barbara. Let's hope after the storm more days . Guadeloupe is " rebuilding" slightly after Rafael damages.