Downtown PoS streets flooded after thunderstorms

While most people across Trinidad complained about the sweltering heat yesterday, several streets in downtown Port-of-Spain were flooded after persistent rainfall. Flooding was observed in the area opposite the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service Headquarters, encompassing Scott-Bushe, Sackville, and London Streets, as well as one of the eastbound lanes of Wrightson Road. This resulted in a temporary build-up of traffic along that route. South Quay was also flooded and impassable from Broadway to George Street at one point. This is a regular occurrence after heavy rainfall in the capital and significantly impacts citizens traversing City Gate in particular.

Showers began in northwestern Trinidad just before midday, followed by a thunderstorm at 1.15 pm. This was the definition of an isolated thunderstorm, as the majority of Trinidad would have been experiencing hot, sunny, and humid conditions at the time.

The chance of flooding was increased by the occurrence of high tide during these showers. After two hours of rainfall, runoff would have been slower than usual, leading to ponding and street flooding in several areas of the capital city.

These afternoon thunderstorms are a feature of the local Wet Season. They are somewhat predictable, as weak winds out of the southeast generally result in showers, and possibly thunderstorms, favouring the northwestern quadrant of Trinidad (as was the case yesterday). Similarly, weak winds out of the northeast may produce showers favouring the southwest.

Since Friday, there has been an indirect impact from Hurricane Erin, with showers and thunderstorms moving in from a southerly direction on that day, leading to flooding across the central areas of Trinidad. The dynamics were similar on Saturday, leading again to thunderstorms over northern and central areas of Trinidad. On that day, the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service’s station at Piarco recorded 91.6mm of rainfall in a six-hour period, representing about one-third of the rainfall expected for the entire month of August.

This marked the end of Erin’s indirect influence on the local weather system. The focus now shifts to the east of T&T, with two tropical waves in the Atlantic Ocean.

The closer of the two is expected to bring showers and thunderstorms today and tomorrow. The other has a low chance of cyclone formation, according to the National Hurricane Center, and will affect the majority of the Lesser Antilles Thursday through Saturday.