Met Office: Not unusual

Despite the recent heavy rainfall over the last two days, a Barbados Meteorological Services (BMS) weather forecaster indicated that this activity is not unusual for September.

Over the last 24 hours, Barbadians shared photos and videos of flooding across Barbados on social media. The island’s meteorological office had issued a Flash Flood Warning and a Severe Thunderstorm Watch on Monday between 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Barbadians were encouraged to stay off the roads, and with the thunderstorm conditions, be ready to safely power down and unplug appliances to protect against power surges.

Yesterday, The Barbados Advocate contacted acting meteorologist Jonathan Alleyne, who provided an update on the current weather situation. The weather forecaster said that over the past 24 hours, there were 39.2 mm of rainfall; 3.0 mm on Monday; and 5.9 mm on Sunday. The island was under the effect of a tropical wave, and Barbadians experienced flooding in low-lying areas in several parishes, Bridgetown and the surrounding communities.

The acting meteorologist also added that with the heavy downpour, this might create challenges for crops due to the soil being waterlogged. He noted that when soil is too dry, it can lead to flooding.

For the remainder of the week, people can expect more weak and unstable conditions. Alleyne said that September is the most active period of the hurricane season, and there is the expectation of more rainfall.