Weather radar and current conditions in Dominica

Roseau, Dominica– Lingering moisture associated with Tropical Storm Philippe continued to affect the area during last night. This is expected to maintain cloudiness with a few showers and possible isolated thunderstorms over the area.

According to the Government of Dominica, Moderate to rough sea conditions are expected over the next 12 hours, with waves peaking nearly 10ft on the eastern, northern and western coasts. A small craft warning and a high surf advisory are in effect. Small craft operators are advised to remain in port. Sea bathers are advised to stay out of the water.

Dominica‘s location and size make it vulnerable to features of the Tropical Atlantic. These include-

• The annual migration of the North Atlantic Subtropical high
• The spreading of the Tropical Atlantic warm pool
• The Easterly Trade Winds
• Tropical waves
• Depressions
• Storms and Hurricanes

The island is very rugged, with many of its mountain ranges located along its centres.

The ‘Dry Season’ usually runs from December to May, and the ‘Wet Season’ from June to November. May and December are transition months.

Major floods ongoing across Dominica:

Philippe has been a persistent thorn in the side of hurricane forecasters. The storm, which formed ten days ago midway between Africa and the Caribbean, ground to a halt late last week and took a southward dive east of the islands as it interacted with the circulation of nearby Tropical Storm Rina.

More often, Philippe weather, including the tropical storm’s heaviest rain and strongest winds, has been displaced to its south and east. The storm centre moved far enough northwest that its stormy tail moved over parts of the northern Leeward Islands, causing extensive flooding in some places. It includes the areas of Dominica also.

Government of Dominica:

Schools were ordered closed in Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Philippe brought heavy rains and flash flooding to these islands while the storm made its way through the northern Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands.

The Government of Dominica issued an official statement in Roseau, “Due to heavy rainfall overnight associated with Tropical Storm Philippe, all schools in Dominica will be closed today”.

The island’s ‘National Security Minister’, Rayburn Blackmoore, speaking on the state-owned DBS radio, said that it was important that students remained at home so as to facilitate the clean-up operations as various landslides had been reported across the island.