The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service says a ‘yellow level’ adverse weather alert remains in effect until Friday (October 7) as a tropical wave continues to buffet the twin-island republic with heavy rains and gusty-to-gale-force winds.

The disturbance, tipped by the US-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) to strengthen into a tropical depression, is currently barrelling through the southeastern Windward Islands en route to the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Localised flooding was reported in sections of southern mainland Trinidad, including Arouca, as the TT Met Office warned citizens not to wade or drive through floodwaters.

“The forward speed of the tropical wave located just east of Tobago has since increased resulting in impactful weather now expected to begin affecting Trinidad and Tobago earlier. Periods of rain and/or showers of varying intensities are expected from midnight-12:00 am (05th October 2022) commencing over Tobago and eastern areas of Trinidad as the active tropical wave traverses westward,” the Trinbagonian agency said.

“There is also a 70% (high) chance of heavy showers and thunderstorms that can produce intense rainfall in excess of 25mm. Gusty winds in excess of 55 km/h may be experienced especially in the vicinity of heavy showers/thunderstorms. Street/flash flooding and localised ponding are also likely in heavy downpours. Seas can become agitated at times in sheltered areas. Landslides/landslips are also possible in areas so prone,” it added.

The Barbados Meteorological Service, in its last update this morning, said owing to the wave’s disorganised structure, the island was spared much of the anticipated rainfall overnight. Wind gusts associated with the system also decreased to “near 25 mph, from an earlier peak up to 50 mph”.

Designated Invest91L, the NHC noted that the tropical wave has not yet shown potential signs of greater organising over the last 24 hours, though radar imagery from Barbados indicates it is producing a large area of showers and thunderstorm activity.

“However, upper-level winds are forecast to become more conducive for development, and a tropical depression is likely to form over the next several days if the system remains over water while moving generally westward at about 15 mph over the southeastern and southern Caribbean Sea,” the NHC advised.

Its development chances have skyrocketed to a “high” of 80 per cent over the next five days.

Computer-generated projection models for the centre of the system plot it on a direct collision course with Central America, particularly the Caribbean coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras.