Tropical depression GRACE is currently crossing Haiti and generating rains and winds under cloudy skies.

Weakened, the Tropical Depression GRACE is crossing the island of Haiti on Monday generating intermittent and sometimes torrential rains. The center of Tropical Depression Grace was located near latitude 17.9 north and longitude 72.4 west. Grace is moving west-northwest at nearly 13 mph (20 km/h). A west to west-northwest movement is expected over the next few days. On the planned track, the Grace center will move near the Tiburon Peninsula in Haiti overnight, move between Jamaica and southeastern Cuba on Tuesday, near the Cayman Islands on Tuesday evening, and approach the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico Wednesday and Wednesday evening.

Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph (55 km/h) with higher gusts. Strengthening is expected over the next few days and Grace is expected to regain tropical storm status on Tuesday. Grace could be close to hurricane force as it approached Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Wednesday night.

Over Haiti and the Dominican Republic... 5 to 10 inches of rain with isolated totals of 15 inches are expected over areas of southern terrain through Tuesday. This heavy rainfall can lead to sudden and urban flooding, and possible mudslides.

Important note : The departments of West, Southeast, Nippes, South and Grand’Anse must be in a state of vigilance considering the trajectory of the GRACE depression.

The rain could greatly complicate search and rescue under the rubble, two days after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the country, killing several hundred people, according to the latest official report. The earthquake also damaged buildings and shelters that are normally used to welcome and protect residents in the event of a storm.

Let's be careful and stay vigilant

HL/ HaitiLibre