The first hurricane of the season formed today in the Atlantic Ocean. It is hurricane dean and last reports are that the storm is packing winds of up to 100 miles an hour. That makes it a category two hurricane and there is cause for concern in Belize because some projections show that the storm could be headed in our direction. So, there is cause for concern, but not alarm, not yet. Forecaster Ann Gordon says if the storm stays on its current track, it could be on Belize’s coast by Tuesday.
Ann Gordon, Meteorologist
“Dean is moving presently on a westward track and the cone of probability or the zone where the hurricane can possibly make landfall is as far north as southern Cuba and as far south as Honduras. So Belize is within that cone of probability. So what we need to do presently is monitor the situation closely and keep the Belizean nation abreast of the situation. By Sunday, the National Met Service will probably be in the preliminary phase, that will give the nation at least 72 hours to make preparations.”
Keith Swift,
So your advice tonight to Belizeans is what?
Ann Gordon,
“You should listen to the National Met Service. We have a six hour update everyday.”
Keith Swift,
Should people start looking at plans for evacuation and boarding up their houses and stuff like that? Is it too early to do that?
Ann Gordon,
“Keith it is always good to be prepared. Like I said at this moment, based on where Hurricane Dean is, it’s too early to say definitely that it’s making a beeline for Belize. However, like I said we should always be prepared during a hurricane season.”
A couple things to note are that the storm is moving at 23 miles per hour which is fast. Normally that isn’t good for a storm but the Met Department says that because conditions are favorable, it will continue to develop. It is forecasted to become a category four storm.
