Latest information from the Belize Weather Bureau is that a fast moving and powerful tropical wave is on a beeline for the coast of Belize. Tonight it is over Jamaica and though still 400 miles from Belize, it is forecasted to be here by mid-day tomorrow. Today we found out why there is reason for concern, but not cause for alarm.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This is the satellite image of the tropical wave. As you can see it is a large and well-organized area of convection - violent thunderstorms really. The wave is moving west towards Jamaica and straight for Belize.
Dennis Gonguez, Meteorologist
"The tropical wave will be here tomorrow by noon."
Keith Swift,
What can we expect?
Dennis Gonguez,
"Squally weather, lots of showers and thunderstorms tomorrow and continuing on Sunday."
Forecaster Dennis Gonguez says the wave isn't forecasted to develop into a tropical storm but that could change.
Dennis Gonguez,
"Conditions at this time are not favorable for it to develop. One of the things that it has against it is that it is moving too fast for its own good. Because it is moving 20 to 25 miles per hour, the tops of the thunderstorms are being blown off, what we call wind shearing is occurring so it is moving a bit fast for its own good. However tomorrow as it nears our mainland, conditions can start change a bit. It looks like the upper level conditions, about thirty to forty thousand feet in the atmosphere, changes a bit."
Gonguez says there is no need to panic but there is reason to prepare.
Dennis Gonguez,
"I don't want people to panic and panic unnecessarily and the system does not develop into a full fledged tropical storm. We should keep our eyes out on it because although it will be pretty close to the mainland tomorrow, when conditions become better for it to develop, we should keep an eye out on the system just in the event that there is some explosive development."
The storm should be here by mid-day tomorrow.
Later on in tonight's news, we'll have the full weather forecast. We note that we are two months into the hurricane season and only three named storms have developed, and none of those have become hurricanes. Still, it doesn't mean much because typically, the peak for the hurricane season in Belize is October and November.