The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) has activated an adverse weather alert for the country on Thursday (July 15), warning that flash flooding and gusty winds are likely due to an approaching tropical wave.

The TTMS, in a 10:00 am advisory, said the ‘yellow’ warning level would last for an initial period between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm local time.

“A tropical wave is expected to traverse the area today resulting in the high chance (70 per cent) of thunderstorms. Localised street/flash flooding and gusty winds can be expected near heavy downpours,” the TTMS advised.

The agency, raising the alert for both the twin-island republic and sections of the southern Windward Islands, added that cloudy to overcast conditions are expected with scattered showers and periods of rain occurring in varying localities.

Satellite imagery of the tropical wave as at 10:50 am Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) places the weather disturbance just between Trinidad and Tobago and several kilometres west of Grenada.

The yellow alert in the TTMS warning system is the second-lowest with respect to potential impact—ahead of green, behind orange and red— and signifies a “moderate risk to public safety, livelihoods and property”.

At its current level, citizens are being encouraged to carry on with their day-to-day activities but pay close attention to subsequent updates as conditions could deteriorate quickly.