Heavy winds wreak havoc on East Coast Demerara

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:00 by GxMedia

Strong rainstorm winds on Saturday damaged several houses and businesses in the East Coast Demerara villages of Beterverwagting, La Bonne Intention (LBI) and Nootenzuil.

One decades-old colonial cottage occupied by an elderly woman  only known as Ms. Dorris, was blown down.

There were no immediate reports of injury at Beterverwagting. Heavy winds also damaged roofs at LBI and Nootenzuil.

Residents along Quamina and Slowe Streets in BV were Saturday afternoon busy patching up their roofs before heavy rains continued.

The owner of Nisha’s shop, Bibi Z. Nisha, said she has to spend at least GUY$500,000 on materials and workmanship to replace her roof.  “I sent to buy two tarpaulin until they finish the roof. It is an old time V roof so I have to pull that down and build a flat roof,” she told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com ).

Lorrain Hamer of Oily’s Shop said her business entity also suffered damage as a result of the high wind. “All I know is the breeze started blowing and the zinc blow off,” she said.

Weather forecasters earlier Saturday said that wins were expected to be East North East  and East South East between  5 to 10 meters per second. gusting to 40 meters per second. over some areas.

Following is the latest weather forecast issued by the Timehri Weather Station:

Current Conditions:
Cloudy to overcast conditions are currently being observed throughout most of Guyana. Regions 2 and 3 are currently experiencing moderate to heavy showers and intermittent rain over some areas. Inland areas are currently experiencing cloudy to occasionally overcast skies as well with scattered moderate showers. Other areas, reporting mostly cloudy skies with brief light showers. Water accumulation/Flooding has been reported in some areas of Region 2, 3 and 4.
Radar data shows, widespread rainfall along coastal regions and some inland location. Regions 2 to 6 and 10 are experiencing varying rainfall intensities from light to heavy. Other areas, isolated light to moderate showers.
Expected condition:

Over the next four (4) hours, these conditions will continue over these same areas. Regions 2, 3, 4 and 5 will continue to experience heavy downpours, but mostly light to moderate showers and intermittent rain are expected. The inland areas will continue to see overcast skies with occasional light to moderate showers and southern half of Guyana are expected to be mostly cloudy conditions with passing showers. Highest rainfall amount are expected over Regions 2 to 6.

Winds: expected to be   ENE  and ESE between  5 to 10 M.P.S. gusting to 40 M.P.S. over some areas.

Rainfall may measure an average between 45.0 mm to 70.0 mm over the coastal areas. Elsewhere across Guyana, values are likely between 0.0 mm to 25.0 mm.