A cold front pushed through Belize over the Christmas weekend and when it came in, it delivered fearsome weather in Benque Viejo and San Jose Succotz. At about 2:00 am on Christmas morning, intense thunderstorms, driving rain and squalling winds descended upon Benque and Succotz.
Chief meteorologist Ramon Frutos reports that heavy rains lasting about two hours caused flash floods which inundated the creek that runs through Benque Viejo, and caused some flooding across the highway. Residents tell us that it was like a tornado and Frutos confirms that cyclonic winds in excess of 20 knots, or 24 miles an hour, may have accompanied the thunderstorms.
And while residents of those communities got a Christmas morning scare, Frutos warns that tonight, those in the banana belt had better prepare for low temperatures that could affect their export crops. He says temperatures in the Stann Creek Valley could get to the lower 50's. If this happens, it will damage bananas that are ready for harvesting. It will be coldest in the Pine Ridge which will dip to the upper 40's. Belize City will see temperatures in the upper 50's.
