It’s not over yet! More flooding in some major rivers expected

The National Hydrological Service advises that additional flooding in some of the country’s major waterways is possible in the short term. Even as things slowly go back to normal in the west, the Principal Hydrologist Tennielle Hendy says that those living along rivers in that part of the country need to remain extra vigilant. 

Tennielle Hendy, Principal Hydrologist: “The Macal we were seeing a decrease in the water levels at this point. The Mopan River however from the last update that we gave it was increasing an exceeded the levels for Hurricane Mitch then it receded and then now again today we saw it go back up again and exceeding those same levels with Mitch again. For the Belize River we see an increase in the water levels at our Double Run station. So what we’re seeing, and I have to include Crooked Tree because all of these form part of that entire system the water levels at Crooked Tree was in line with the causeway and we were starting to see small increases in the water levels there. So that’s the current status that we have on those systems.”

Reports on various parts of the Belize River indicate additional water, particularly near Double Run. The principal hydrologist, Tennielle Hendy adds that there are areas along the Sibun – as far west as Belmopan to the Deepwater Port near Belize City – that are closely being monitored. 

Tennielle Hendy, Principal Hydrologist: “What we’re seeing at Double Run we’re seeing an increase in the water levels. This was above normal and then it started increasing and that is normal. Whenever we have these types of systems these rivers are outlets and so as the flood waters traverse down the riverine system it would eventually reach the estuary or the mouth of the river and so Double Run is about seventeen miles away from that outlet. SO for the forecasting for these systems remember we spoke about transboundary flooding we know that Mexico and Guatemala have been receiving excessive rainfall as well. So whatever their landscape does not absorb it finds its way into the river course and it comes down to us. So what we are seeing is the waves coming down from Guatemala into our system and so we saw that spike going up in terms of the Mopan River.”

Hendy advises that the Sittee River at Kendal, the Bladen, the Moho River at Jordan and the Temash River at Crique Sarco are also at flood stage at this time.