Heavy Rainfall Soaks Central and Northern Belize

Several parts of Belize have been battered by intense rainfall over the past 24 hours, with meteorologists warning that additional heavy showers are likely overnight and into Friday morning.

Chief Meteorologist Ronald Gordon said rainfall totals have already reached significant levels in multiple communities, particularly in central Belize. “Our automatic weather station network are reporting that the peak was at Middle Sex, they recorded in excess of eight inches of rainfall… That is a lot of rainfall in less than twenty-four hours,” Gordon said.

“Another notable location is Kendal which recorded about seven inches of rainfall, and then La Democracia we had about four inches, four or five inches,” he added, pointing to a clear concentration of heavy rainfall across the central and northern regions.

While concerns briefly emerged about possible tropical development in the area, Gordon stressed that the risk remains minimal. “The National Hurricane Center has indicated a small potential for that system that is over us now to develop in the Bay of Campache… Development is very small. We don’t expect it to develop,” he said. However, he cautioned that Belize is not yet in the clear, with more rain expected overnight. “But we do expect another down pour tonight again, into tomorrow morning, early,” Gordon warned. He added that central Belize will be heavily impacted, with northern areas also on alert.

He said rainfall amounts could once again be significant. “People up north need to begin preparing because we expect four to six inches of rainfall within the next twenty-four hours, for potential of up to eight inches,” Gordon stated. Despite the unsettled conditions, he noted that improvements are expected as the weekend approaches.