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Belize

Hydrological update on Belize floods - 5 Jun 2008

By NEMO Information Unit

SYNOPSIS:

THE SATELLITE LOOP A LINE OF MOSTLY LAYERED CLOUDS EXTENDED FROM SOUTHERN YUCATAN PENINSULA SOUTHEAST ACROSS CENTRAL BELIZE TO THE COASTAL WATERS EAST OF DANGRIGA.A CLUSTER OF DISSIPATING CONVECTION WAS NOTED JUST EAST OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF DANGRIGA AT 4:45AM (1045UTC).

THE WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR THURSDAY IS FOR CLOUDY SKIES WITH A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORM MAINLY OVER COASTAL WATERS AND THE NORTHERN DISTRICTS, WITH ESTIMATED ACCUMULATIONS OF 20-40mm

ON FRIDAY WE CAN EXPECT CLOUDY SKIES WITH SUNNY PERIODS AND RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 20-40mm, MAINLY IN THE NORTH, CENTRAL AND COASTAL AREAS.

SATURDAY WILL TURN OUT MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH SLIGHTLY MORE SHOWERS ESPECIALLY OVER NORTHERN AND CENTRAL AREAS, WHERE ACCUMALUATION OF 30-40mm WILL OCCUR.

A TROPICAL WAVE WITH ONLY WEAK SIGNATURE AT THE LOW LEVELS WILL REACH BELIZE ON FRIDAY, RESULTING IN LITTLE CHANGE IN THE WEATHER.

A FLOOD WAVE IS ALREADY MAKING ITS WAY DOWN THE LOWER BELIZE RIVER VALLEY DOWNSTREAM OF BIG FALLS TONIGHT.

STATE OF THE RIVERS AND WATER WAYS ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON (June 4, 2008):

FLOOD WATERS HAVE RECEDED FROM GALES POINT EXCEPT IN THE NORTHERN SECTION. LAGOON REMAINS ABOVE FLOOD LEVEL,BUT STEADY.

THE RIO HONDO AND THE NEW RIVER CONTINUES TO RISE SLOWLY. RIVER LEVELS CONTINUE TO ENCROACH ON THE VILLAGE BOUNDARIES IN DOUGLAS AND SAN VICTOR VILLAGES. THIS ENCROACHMENT IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE SLOWLY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THE NEW AT TOWER HILL AND CALEDONIA REMAIN IN FLOOD STAGE. AT TOWER HILL LEVELS HAVE PEAKED AND ARE NOW FALLING AND WILL REMAIN IN FLOOD STAGE THROUGH THURSDAY. AT CALEDONIA RIVER LEVELS WILL REMAIN IN FLOOD STAGE THROUGH THURSDAY.

RESERVOIR LEVEL AT CHALILLO REMAINS BELOW SPILLWAY. AT MOLLEJON RIVER LEVELS ARE ABOVE THE SPILLWAY. AT SAN IGNACIO RIVER LEVELS ARE ABOVE THE LOW LEVEL BRIDGE AND RISING, HOWEVER THIS LEVEL IS EXPECTED TO FALL BELOW THIS BRIDGE BY THURSDAY MORNING.

THE MOPAN RIVER IS IN FLOOD STAGE AND IS ONCE AGAIN INCREASING. THE IGUANA CREEK BRIDGE IS NOW UNDER 3 FEET OF WATER AND RIVER LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE to INCREASE SLOWLY THROUGH THURSDAY. THE CROOKED TREE LAGOON LEVELS HAVE PEAKED AND REMAIN BELOW THE CAUSEWAY. LAGOON LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN TO RISE AGAIN EARLY THYURSDAY. LAGOON LEVELS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO EXCEED THE CAUSEWAY. RIVER LEVELS IN LOWER BELIZE RIVER, BELOW DOUBLE RUN, HAVE PEAKED AND A SLIGHT FALL IN LEVELS IS OCCURRING AT THIS MOMENT. LEVELS AT DOUBLE RUN ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE EARLY THURSDAY.

THE SIBUN RIVER IS IN FLOOD STAGE IN ITS UPPER REACHES AND FALLING. RIVER LEVELS NEAR GRACIE ROCK VILLAGE REMAIN BELOW THE BANKS AND RISING SLOWLY BUT WILL NOT EXCEED THE BANKS. NEAR FREETOWN RIVER LEVELS ARE ABOUT PEAK AND IS EXPECTED TO FALL TO ABOVE NORMAL LEVELS THROUGH THURSDAY.

THE NORTH STANN CREEK AND ITS TRIBUTARIES REMAINS IN FLOOD STAGE. RIVER LEVELS WILL REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL LEVELS THROUGH THURSDAY.

THE SITTEE RIVER (KENDAL BRIDGE AREA) HAS RECEDED. HOWEVER IT REMAINS IN FLOOD STAGE. THIS RECESSION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY. THE SWASEY AND BLADEN BRANCHES OF THE MONKEY RIVER, THE DEEP RIVER, AND THE GOLDEN STREAM HAVE PEAKED AND ARE FALLING SLOWLY. LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL THROUGH THURSDAY.

THE MOHO RIVER IS ABOVE NORMAL AND FALLING AT BLUE CREEK AND NORMAL AND FALLING AT JORDAN. THE TEMASH AND SARSTOON REPORTED IN NORMAL AND STEADY RIVER LEVELS. THESE CONDITIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO CHANGE THROUGH THURSDAY.