CDC monitoring effects of rainy weather; Miners urged to take precautions

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is monitoring the severe weather conditions currently being experienced, to determine whether its intervention is needed.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA) today, Director General of the CDC, retired Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup said his agency is “observing and monitoring the situation”.

He said minor flooding has been observed in parts of Regions Two, Six and Five as a result of the inclement weather. However, the CDC’s intervention has not been warranted in these Regions.

The CDC is also monitoring the conditions in hinterland communities. Col Ramsarup said that no reports have been made of flooding in Regions Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten.

Additionally, Acting Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Newell Dennison is urging miners to be extremely cautious during the rainy season.

Dennison said miners should, “exercise extreme caution in their work” in rainy conditions as mining accidents tend to occur in the rainy season since the soil is usually weakened after downpours.

Last year, seven mining related deaths were recorded.

Miners are being encouraged to ensure they practice safe mining and adhere to the relevant mining Laws and Regulations. This year, the Ministry of Natural Resources will be working with miners to “cultivate a culture of self-regulation” in the sector to tackle the issue of mines safety, Minister Raphael Trotman had stated during his budget presentation last December.

On Wednesday, the Hydrometeorological Service predicted rainfall over the next four days.

It was noted that “a mid to upper-level trough supported by the sub-tropical jet produced weak to moderate convective clouds throughout Guyana.”

Extended Forecast 

Friday and Saturday: Cloudy to overcast skies with moderate to heavy showers, light intermittent rain and isolated thundershowers can be expected over Regions 1 to 8 and 10, Region 9 can expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with scattered showers. Rainfall is expected to range between 25.0 mm and 80.0 mm, however, some areas may record values exceeding 100.0 mm within a 24hrs period.

Sunday thru’ Tuesday: Cloudy skies with light to moderate showers and possible isolated thundershowers can be expected overall Regions; conditions are expected to improve over some coastal areas during the afternoon.  Rainfall is expected to range between 10.0 mm and 40.0 mm within a 24hrs period.

With the forecasted weather conditions coupled with the high tides, coastal areas may experience prolonged water accumulations/flooding in poor drainage, low-lying and riverine areas.

MODERATE TO ROUGH SEAS WITH WAVES REACHING HEIGHTS OF 2.0 TO 2.5 METERS IN OPEN WATERS

Occurrences of high and low tides for the next 24 hours

Tonight

High Tide: 20:36 hrs, Height: 2.60 m

Tomorrow Morning

Low Tide: 02:41 hrs, Height: 0.87 m

High Tide: 08:48 hrs, Height: 2.59 m

Tomorrow Afternoon

Low Tide: 15:15 hrs, Height: 1.07 m

Above normal high tides is not in effect. The next period of above normal high tide will begin Sunday, January 08, 2017.