Hurricane Tomas (Category 1) was born last night from a tropical storm and a low pressure center, located this morning near the island of Barbados. The various forecasting models show a west northwest trajectory.

The center will be near of St Lucia and St Vincent this afternoon for then return in the Caribbean sea Sunday and Monday,it will be near the southern coast of Haiti on Tuesday and Wednesday. The passage of this disturbance near the southern coast of Haiti could generate gusty winds, scattered showers and thunderstorms especially for regions south of Haiti from Sunday or Monday depending on its speed.

To this end, the Permanent Secretariat of Risk Management and Disaster (SPGRD) passed this Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 10:00am to a level of vigilance orange (risk of impact, moderate to strong) to heavy rains in the Emergency National Plan threats of gusty winds and thunderstorms, scattered showers with a risk of flooding from rivers, landslides and floods of moderate intensity including the departments of the Southeast, South, Nippes, the Grande Anse and West.

The National Meteorological Center (CNM) in conjunction with the SPGRD and Direction of Civil protection (DPC) is asking the public living in the risk areas, to remain vigilant and strictly implement the safety precautions in case of strong winds, flooding, mudslides, landslides and severe thunderstorms (lightning and thunder).

• Stay tuned to weather reports for any new development of this system.

• Watch the rising waters. If your home is threatened by floods and landslides, prepare to evacuate.

• Do not cross rivers in spate for any reason.

• In cases of severe thunderstorms, do not shelter near windows and wooded area.

HL/ HaitiLibre