NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (April 22, 2021) — The Nevis Disaster Management Committee hosted its first meeting for 2021 on April 20, ahead of this year’s Atlantic Hurricane Season which runs from June 01 to November 30.
Deputy Premier Hon. Alexis Jeffers, Minister responsible for Disaster Management in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) spoke to the various stakeholder agency representatives about preparedness efforts on Nevis for possible disaster.
“There’s no doubt about it that disasters will strike us from time to time, no matter where you live on this earth, whether it’s a natural disaster or man-made disaster. You cannot always be fully prepared, the best you can do is to try to prepare as much as you can, and deal with the circumstances as they come.
“I believe we are in a much better position to deal with circumstances as they come this year if we were to deal with a hurricane or tropical storm or anything that may displace us in any way or create any difficulties for us.
“I do believe we have the capability and the capacity to deal with what is before us this year. We can always prepare, but we don’t know what the future holds. We don’t know if we can always get it right but we will try our best,” he said.
Early predictions are that the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season will have above normal activity, calling for 17 named tropical cyclone formations including eight hurricanes, four of which are predicted to be major hurricanes.
Mr. Jeffers said, “We cannot just sit back and not prepare, so we are starting very early, and as such we are hoping with our early preparations we will be in a much better position if the need arises.”
Mr. Brian Dyer, Director of the Nevis Disaster Management Department (NDMD), said the agency had already reviewed its disaster plan which looked at earthquake hazard, hurricane hazard, flood hazard and mass crowd gatherings.
“We have to ensure that we continuously enhance our knowledge, our professional development, investment in technologies, improvement in situational awareness skills, and bolstering our partnerships.
“In spite of the inherent and developmental challenges the Nevis Disaster Management Department remains resolute in improving our understanding of disaster risks while building capacity to reduce the impact of disasters in our communities and across the island by extension,” he said.
During the meeting representatives from the various disaster stakeholder agencies produced reports that outlined their preparedness plans, strategies and programs.
The meeting was held at the NDMD conference room at Long Point.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 19, 2021 (SKNIS): Carlene Henry-Morton, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Transport, and Ports, has congratulated the St. Kitts Department of Meteorological Services for 50 years of service to the island’s population and encouraged the staff to maintain a spirit of excellence when performing their duties.
Mrs. Henry-Morton extended the commendation on Sunday, April 18, 2021, as she worshiped with the department’s staff at the Antioch Baptist Church at Lime Kiln Commercial Development.
Her comments were made on behalf of the Minister of Ports, the Honourable Lindsay Grant, who was unable to attend the service to deliver remarks.
The Met Office, as it is commonly called, monitors and provides weather forecasts. It also handles air traffic control for the R. L. Bradshaw International Airport.
The permanent secretary said that the services provided by the Met Office are particularly important given the changing global environmental conditions.
“The need for accuracy still remains paramount and the staff at the Meteorological Services strives to deliver reliable and dependable results recognizing the implications to safety in aviation and the potential impact on lives and livelihoods from accurate weather information,” she stated.
Mrs. Henry-Morton added that the upcoming Atlantic Hurricane Season, which forecasters predict will be above normal, requires a high level of commitment from the Met Office staff.
“To this end, the staff readily accepts the challenge to provide timely updates on weather conditions so that as a nation we can make informed decisions to protect lives and livelihoods. For this, we must say a hearty thank you for their dedication and selfless service in the past and present, and which I am confident will continue well into the future,” she expressed.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Service with Accuracy and Reliability – St. Kitts Meteorological Services at 50.”
]]>MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) — A fast-strengthening Hurricane Iota became a very dangerous Category 4 storm as it swept over the western Caribbean early Monday, approaching the same part of Central America battered by a similarly powerful Hurricane Eta just over a week ago.
Forecasters said Iota’s maximum sustained winds had reached 155 mph (245 kph), and were growing stronger, potentially making for a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane by the time it reaches the coast.
Authorities warned that Iota would probably come ashore over areas where Eta’s torrential rains saturated the soil, leaving it prone to new landslides and floods, and that the storm surge could reach a shocking 12 to 18 feet 3.6 to 5.5 meters) above normal tides.
Evacuations were being conducted from low-lying areas in Nicaragua and Honduras near their shared border, which appeared to be Iota’s likely landfall. Winds and rain were already being felt on the Nicaraguan coast Sunday night.
Iota became a hurricane early Sunday and rapidly gained more power. It was expected to pass over or near Colombia’s Providencia island during the night, and the U.S. National Hurricane Center warned it would probably reach the Central America mainland late Monday.
The hurricane center said Iota was centered about 20 miles (35 km) off Isla de Providencia, Colombia, and 145 miles (235 km) southeast of Cabo Gracias a Dios on the Nicaragua-Honduras border, and moving westward at 10 mph (17 kph).
Iota is the record 30th named storm of this year’s extraordinarily busy Atlantic hurricane season. Such activity has focused attention on climate change, which scientists say is causing wetter, stronger and more destructive storms.
All of Honduras was on high alert, with compulsory evacuations that began before the weekend. By Sunday evening 63,500 people were reported to be in 379 shelters just in the northern coastal region.
Nicaraguan officials said that by late Sunday afternoon about 1,500 people, nearly half of them children, had been evacuated from low-lying areas in the country’s northeast, including all the inhabitants of Cayo Misquitos. Authorities said 83,000 people in that region were in danger.
Wind and rain were beginning to be felt Sunday night in Bilwi, a coastal Nicaraguan city where people crowded markets and hardware stores during the day in search of plastic sheeting, nails and other materials to reinforce their homes, just as they did when Hurricane Eta hit on Nov. 3.
Several residents of Bilwi expressed concern that their homes would not stand up to Iota, so soon after Eta. Local television showed people being evacuated in wooden boats, carrying young children as well as dogs and chickens.
It hit Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane, killing at least 120 people as torrential rains caused flash floods and mudslides in parts of Central America and Mexico. Then it meandered across Cuba, the Florida Keys and around the Gulf of Mexico before slogging ashore again near Cedar Key, Florida, and dashing across Florida and the Carolinas.
Iota was forecast to drop 8 to 16 inches (200-400 millimeters) of rain in northern Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and southern Belize, with as much as 30 inches (750 millimeters) in isolated spots. Costa Rica and Panama could also experience heavy rain and possible flooding, the hurricane center said.
Eta was this year’s 28th named storm, tying the 2005 record. Remnants of Theta, the 29th, dissipated Sunday in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
The official end of hurricane season is Nov. 30.
Associated Press writer Marlon González in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, contributed to this report.
]]>Weather Bulletin
Issued at: 7am Tuesday, 20th October 2020.
Present Weather: Clear Skies
Winds: A light breeze of 5mph from the West Temperature: 27°C / 81°F
Humidity: 81%
Sea Level Pressure: 1010.6mbs or 29.84mb
Sunrise: Tom 6:05am
Sunset: Today 5:46pm
Weather Forecast Valid until 8am Tomorrow
Winds: West- southwest at 5 to 12 mph becoming variable or calm at times.
Seas: 1.2 to 1.5 metres or 4 to 5 feet.
Weather Forecast for St. Kitts & Nevis: Weather today: Partly sunny skies in general with a 50 percent or moderate chance of localized showers developing mainly during the mid-morning to afternoon hours.
Weather tonight: Fair to partly cloudy and cool conditions with only a 20 percent or slight chance of a brief shower.
Eastern Caribbean Forecast: The combination of light westerly winds, daytime heating and available low level moisture could maintain a moderate chance for localized showers across portions of the Leeward Islands and British Virgin Islands during the next 24 hours. Elsewhere across the Eastern Caribbean, we can expect fair to partly cloudy skies with only a slight chance of a brief passing shower
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport
St. Kitts Meteorological Services
St. Christopher Air & Sea Port Authority
P.O. Box 963 Basseterre St. Kitts
Tel: 869 465 2749
Tele- fax: 869 465 9122
]]>Weather Bulletin
Issued at: 7am Friday, 16th October 2020
Present Weather: Cloudy
Winds: A gentle breeze of 9mph from the ESE
Temperature: 27°C / 81°F
Humidity: 85%
Sea Level Pressure: 1014.2mbs or 29.95
Sunrise: Tom 6:04am
Sunset: Today 5:48pm
Weather Forecast Valid until 8am Tomorrow
Winds: East – southeast at 7 to 16mph.
Seas: 1 to 1.5metres or 3 to 5feet.
Weather Forecast for St. Kitts & Nevis: Today will be mostly cloudy with a 70 percent or a high chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly late this morning to midafternoon. Tonight will be mostly cloudy with a 60 percent or a moderate chance of showers and a 40 percent or a moderate chance of thunderstorms, mainly after midnight.
Eastern Caribbean Forecast: Converging wind, at the lower atmosphere, will likely result in showers and thunderstorms across the Leeward Islands and the Virgin Islands. Similar weather is expected across Puerto Rico, mainly tonight. Elsewhere, skies will be, at most, cloudy occasionally with a moderate chance of showers.
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport
St. Kitts Meteorological Services St. Christopher Air & Sea Port Authority
P.O. Box 963 Basseterre St. Kitts
Tel: 869 465 2749
Tele- fax: 869 465 9122
]]>Weather Bulletin
Issued at: 7am Wednesday, 23rd September 2020
Present Weather: Cloudy skies
Winds: Calm Temperature: 27°C / 80°F
Humidity: 88%
Sea Level Pressure: 1014.1mbs or 29.94”
Sunrise: Tom 6:01am
Sunset: Today 6:07pm
Weather Forecast Valid until 8am Tomorrow
Winds: East-southeast at 5 – 12mph becoming variable or calm at times.
Seas: 1.5 – 2.1m or 5 – 7ft with northerly swells peaking at 1.8m or 6 feet and a high surf advisory remains in effect
Weather Forecast for St. Kitts & Nevis: Partly sunny at first becoming locally cloudy with a 50 percent or moderate chance of localize afternoon showers and slight chance of thunderstorms.
Weather tonight: Partly cloudy with a 50 percent or moderate chance of early morning showers
Eastern Caribbean Forecast: A weakening frontal trough just north of the area will cause the atmosphere over Puerto Rico the US and British Virgin Islands and to a lesser extent the Leeward Islands to be relatively unstable today and tonight. Skies over these islands will be generally partly cloudy to cloudy with localize showers and a few isolated thunderstorms during the period. Weak unstable conditions also exist over the Windwards and Barbados; however, because of the presence of a weak low-level ridge, skies over these islands will remain generally partly cloudy with brief showers today. By tonight, a low level trough moving into the region could increase the chance of showers over these islands.
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport
St. Kitts Meteorological Services
St. Christopher Air & Sea Port Authority
P.O. Box 963
Basseterre St. Kitts
Tel: 869 465 2749
Tele- fax: 869 465 9122
]]>Weather Bulletin
Issued at: 7am Monday, 21st September 2020 Present Weather: Cloudy Skies
Winds: Variable at 2mph.
Temperature: 28°C / 82°F
Humidity: 87%
Sea Level Pressure: 1013.2mbs or 29.92”
Sunrise: Tom 5:59am
Sunset: Today 6:07pm Weather Forecast Valid until 8am Tomorrow
Winds: South at 7 to 15 mph.
Seas: 1.0 to 1.2 metres or 3 to 4 feet.
Weather Forecast for St. Kitts & Nevis: Cloudy at times with a 50 percent or moderate chance of showers.
Weather tonight: Partly cloudy with a 30 percent or low chance of showers.
Eastern Caribbean Forecast: Moist and unstable conditions associated with the passage of Hurricane Teddy continue to heighten the chances for cloudiness and showers across the Islands. Skies therefore across the Virgin Islands, Leeward Islands, Windward Islands, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago will be partly cloudy to cloudy with a moderate chance of showers today and tonight. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico could see partly cloudy skies with a low chance of showers.
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport
St. Kitts Meteorological Services
St. Christopher Air & Sea Port Authority
P.O. Box 963
Basseterre
St. Kitts
Tel: 869 465 2749 Tele- fax: 869 465 9122
]]>Weather Bulletin
Issued at: 7am Tuesday 8th September 2020
Present Weather: Partly Cloudy Skies Winds: A Gentle breeze of 8mph from the East-northeast.
Temperature: 27°C / 81°F
Humidity: 90%
Sea Level Pressure: 1011.3mbs or 29.86”
Sunrise: Tom 5:58am
Sunset: Today 6:19pm
Weather Forecast Valid until 8am Tomorrow
Winds: East at 9 – 16mph with lighter spells at times.
Seas: 1.2 – 1.8m or 4 – 6ft.
Weather Forecast for St. Kitts & Nevis: Partly cloudy skies with a 50 percent or moderate chance of showers mainly in the morning, with these chances reducing into the afternoon.
Weather tonight: Partly cloudy skies with a 60 percent or moderate chance of showers mainly after midnight.
Eastern Caribbean Forecast: The presence of an upper level trough along with available low level moisture will maintain a moderate chance of showers across portions of the Leeward Islands and British Virgin Islands. Meanwhile the presence of the Inter Tropical Convergent Zone will also maintain a moderate chance of showers and thunderstorms across T&T.
Elsewhere across the eastern Caribbean skies will be fair to partly cloudy with a slight chance of brief showers.
Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport
St. Kitts Meteorological Services
St. Christopher Air & Sea Port Authority
P.O. Box 963 Basseterre St. Kitts
Tel: 869 465 2749
Tele- fax: 869 465 9122
Weather Bulletin
]]>BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, August 22, 2020 (SKNIS): Motorists are advised that there is a temporary diversion of traffic at Old Road Bay Road to the new road under construction.
Persons need to exercise extreme caution on the new road under construction by driving slowly.
The decision for the diversion became necessary after rockfall from the hillside injured persons in a passenger bus on Friday, August 21, 2020. Further rockfall has taken place due to the passage of Tropic Storm Laura and poses further danger to persons.
Please be guided accordingly.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, August 21, 2020 (SKNIS): All Government offices have been advised to close today, August 21st, 2020, at 1:00 pm following a decision made by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, representatives of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the St. Kitts Met Office, in light of Tropical Storm Laura, which is forecast to impact the Federation whether directly or indirectly within the next nine hours.
Persons are asked to take opportunity of the early closure to return home and prepare themselves and their households for Tropical Storm Laura.
Tropical Storm Laura is expected to bring storm force winds, moderate to heavy rainfalls, accompanied by thunderstorms, with the potential for flash flooding. All motorists and pedestrians should take the necessary precautions.
Persons residing in vulnerable areas should keep themselves advised of the changing situation and make every effort to keep themselves safe.
All essential workers are expected to function as normal.
Citizens and residents are encouraged to stay informed to the weather updates provided by the Met Office and NEMA.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 30, 2020 (SKNIS): Potential Tropical cyclone #9 drenched St. Kitts and Nevis with rain on late Tuesday and on Wednesday (July 28 and 29) causing waterways to flood, while winds gusting close to 50 miles per hour toppled electrical poles and trees.
The tropical disturbance passed to the South of the twin-island federation but made an impression with its wide rain bands. The tropical disturbance has since been upgraded to a Tropical Storm with the name Isaias.
National Disaster Coordinator, Abdias Samuel, said that residents need to maintain a vigilant stance as the Atlantic Hurricane Season continues.
“We ask that you remain in a high state of preparedness and continue to monitor your local weather forecast from the Met [meteorology] Office,” Mr Samuel stated at the July 29 National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) Briefing.
The National Disaster Coordinator also advised individuals to pay close attention to bulletins from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nevis Disaster Management Department, and local radio stations.
The Atlantic Hurricane Season began on June 01 and ends on November 30. Experts stated that the season would be above normal. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting a likely range of 13 to 19 named storms of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes including 3 to 6 major hurricanes.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 29, 2020 (SKNIS): As Tropical Storm Isaias passes St. Kitts and Nevis, individuals are encouraged to stay clear of ghauts as there is the potential for flash flooding.
“I want persons to be mindful of the waterways, what we in local terms call ghauts. Be mindful not to be parking in ghauts, not to be carrying out any activity whatsoever in these ghauts as there is the potential for flash flooding,” said Abdias Samuel, National Disaster Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
During the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) Briefing on July 29, 2020, Mr. Samuel said that the general public will be updated on the storm and encouraged them to continue to listen to be informed. An update is scheduled for noon with another to follow at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, 2020.
“Our local Met Office will continue to provide us with the necessary updates bearing in mind that weather is dynamic and I think that we should be happy that the situation is not as bad as we expected it, therefore, we should continue to pray,” he added.
Mr. Samuel thanked citizens and residents for their “response and cooperation” to date, noting that their actions are “commendable” and encouraged them to continue to be vigilant and exercise caution where necessary.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 29, 2020 (SKNIS): Abdias Samuel, National Disaster Coordinator (NDC) of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has appealed to the general public to stay off the road as potential tropical cyclone 9 – Isaias passes the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“I am seeing persons out on the road moving and driving very carelessly. If you do not have to be on the road stay at home. A stay at home order was given by the Honourable Prime Minister [Dr. Timothy Harris] last night on Leadership Matters and so I am appealing to all to comply with the stay at home order,” said Mr. Samuel during the NEOC (National Emergency Operations Center) Briefing on July 29, 2020, adding that only those essential workers who were identified are to be outside.
Important to note, NDC Samuel said that assessments were carried out on the roads to ensure they are safe to access, but warned road users to be extremely careful.
“We did some assessments of the critical infrastructure on St. Kitts and Nevis and we looked at our road networks, in particular, the Old Road Bay and I am appealing to any road users that have to traverse through this area to exercise caution,” he said. “In my discussions with Superintendent Rogers he has informed me that a small boulder would have rolled down from the hillside, however, that has not impeded traffic so we are asking all road users to exercise caution when using the road, in particular, the Old Road Bay area.”
He noted that the relevant stakeholders in St. Kitts and Nevis have agreed to assist with the safe passage of individuals should the need arise.
“The Public Works Department has advised that they are going to do everything possible in conjunction with the project manager and the contractor to ensure they facilitate the safe passage of individuals if persons have to do so,” said Mr. Samuel, while reiterating “if you do not have to use the road stay at home until an all-clear is given by the relevant authorities.”
Assessments were also done on the Bay Road in Basseterre from the Cenotaph to Industrial site, as well as Fig Tree, Lynches and New Guinea and all are safe thus far.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 29, 2020 (ZIZ News):
By: Chaïra Flanders
Occasional rainy and windy conditions caused by Tropical Cyclone 9 prompted the partial activation of the National Emergency systems in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Persons on social media indicated that the weather conditions began deteriorating late Tuesday night and then just after 4 Wednesday morning.
A flash flood warning remains in effect for those persons living in low lying areas and any region that is prone to flooding and landslides.
Mariners have been warned to stay in port and seek safe anchorage. Sea bathers should avoid the beaches.
The NEMA and the St. Kitts Met Office has advised that the peak of the stormy conditions can be expected later this afternoon.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 29, 2020 (ZIZ News):
By: Chaïra Flanders
A high voltage pole that was blown down in the vicinity of John England’s Village, St. Peter’s is the cause of a major power outage that affected several communities early Wednesday morning.
ZIZ understands that customers from New Road heading north to Milliken (Monkey Hill, Cedar Grove, etc) have been affected.
Deputy Disaster Coordinator at the National Emergency Management Emergency Agency (NEMA), Claricia Langley-Stevens made the announcement just after 9 a.m. at the National Emergency Operations Centre briefing on behalf of the St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC). The emergency briefing was held to update the public about the status of present weather conditions caused by Tropical Storm Isaias.
“SKELEC has reported that the Bayford’s feeder is completely down and this was caused by a down power line in St. Peter’s on the island’s main road below the St. Peters Daycare”, she said.
Langley-Stevens also revealed that there has also been reports of isolated outages across the island.
“There are a few isolated power outages and the communities that are affected will be Green tree in Old Road, Mansion, Saddlers, Buckley’s, Lime Kiln and Cayon”, she listed.
Persons have also reported that power has been out in parts of Taylor’s Extension.
However, on its Facebook page, SKELEC said the company is unable to provide an estimated time of restoration at this time.
Representatives from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, the Fire and Rescue Services, Shelter Management, Damage Assessment, Health and Public Utilities Departments, St. Kitts and Nevis Red Cross Society, Ham Radio, the St. Kitts Met Office and the NEMA staff were all present at the emergency briefing.
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