With warnings from the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that there will be a 70 per cent chance of 12 to 18 named storms and six to 10 projected hurricanes, my homeland of
Jamaica is already feeling the early droplets of the Tropical Atlantic season, where it is said that three to six of these weather patterns could become major hurricanes, with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or higher. We have suffered extensively from hurricanes and tropical storms during the period June to November, in recent years, and our Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has just issued a warning to residents of low-lying and flood-prone areas to be on high alert for flash flooding as rains affecting the island were expected to continue over the weekend.

The National Meteorological Service said periods of showers and thunderstorms, which could be heavy at times, were expected to affect most parishes last night and continuing into the weekend.The area of low pressure, the Met Service said, has a low chance of developing into a tropical cyclone by late Sunday. The forecast was for towns in the southwestern and northeastern section of the island — May Pen, Mandeville, Black River, Savanna-la-Mar, Negril, Port Antonio and Port Maria — to receive thunderstorms, and elsewhere showers. “This means that vulnerable communities across the island should be on high alert as antecedent moisture could cause flash flooding,” said the ODPEM. It said communities in Kingston and St Andrew that are along the Sandy Gully, Boucher Gully and other gully networks should remain vigilant as high levels of storm water were reported in these channels yesterday. - Jamaica Observer.
As we prepare for these thunderstorms, tropical cyclones and hurricanes, the deluge from these type of weather systems continues to swamp several countries across the globe.
In
Colombia, the persistent heavy rains continue to hit the country, where over two million people have been affected by widespread flooding, landslides and land subsidence. Across the country, nearly 500 have died as a direct result.
COLOMBIA FLOODS AND LANDSLIDES CONTINUES!
Since December last year, this quarter provided a major landslide, as well as cover some homes, caused the cracking and subsequent fall another 15 casas.Vanguardia.com visited the area, and only five months later, authorities begin to take action on the matter. The rains of recent days coupled with the lack of maintenance of the sewer caused a minor flood in the school based Picon A.uspendidas Cortés Nieves, some students, with the permission of parents, were returned to their homes. The worst affected areas were a garden, the staff room and coordination. The water level reached a point, which prevented the free passage of the educational community. "The school day was developed normally. Now ask the competent authority to do the cleaning necessary to avoid a repetition, "said Cesar Mantilla, coordinator of the day of the water damaged some files mañana.El academics. Due to the emergency, the Civil Defense and Fire Department rushed to the scene, but did not have the specialized equipment to remove water. At 9:00 in the morning, water came down the work conducted by the community educativa.Según the report of the Civil Defense, the flooding occurred because the drainage system becomes clogged and prevented the water flow with ease. Without emergency Girón. According to information provided by the authorities, the rains so far have not caused emergencies in the town and although the level of the Golden River rose to two meters high is not flooded, yesterday morning reduced its flow. Living in minor flooding occurred runoff. Meanwhile, the City continues on orange alert. - Vanguardia.

In the United States, the
Missouri River continues to rise, as flooding extends underground.
MISSOURI RIVER FLOODING!Hundreds of people in North and South Dakota evacuated affluent areas along the Missouri River on Friday as federal officials increased water releases to relieve pressure on six reservoirs. Residents in Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska were also braced for flooding. About 400 people from neighborhoods in Bismarck, N.D., were evacuating, and Gov. Dennis Daugaard of South Dakota urged residents of Dakota Dunes to leave by midnight. The Army Corps of Engineers increased the flow through the Oahe Dam above Pierre, S.D., on Friday. The river level is expected to rise about four feet by Tuesday. - New York Times.

Residents evacuated some affluent areas of North Dakota and South Dakota on Friday along the swollen Missouri River as federal officials kicked up water releases to relieve pressure on six Upper Plains reservoirs. And the U.S. Coast Guard on Friday closed the entire 734 mile length of the river to recreational traffic until the high waters decrease, following the voluntary halting of operations by business vessels. About 400 residents of upscale neighborhoods on the river in Bismarck, North Dakota's capital, were evacuating and South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard urged residents of the "country club" area of Dakota Dunes to exit by midnight. In Bismarck, workers were nearing the end of a race to finish a series of levees on Friday as federal water managers ramped up spills upstream from Garrison Dam, officials said. Mayor John Warford said Bismarck was approaching the eleventh hour and urged residents to "focus on the fight." ... Residents in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri also were braced for widespread flooding. The maximum planned release rates are expected to push the Missouri River up to seven feet above flood stage at Sioux City, Omaha and Kansas City. The governors of Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska have been surveying areas already flooding along the Missouri River. "The Missouri River will be high for the rest of the summer," said John Grothaus, chief of planning in the Corps' Kansas City district. Officials stopped short of mandatory evacuations in South Dakota. Up to 3,000 Pierre and Fort Pierre residents and more than 800 of the 1,100 homes in Dakota Dunes are threatened. - Reuters.
WATCH: South Dakota's capital prepares for flooding.
In the
Philippines, intermittent rain caused flash flooding in 21 villages and thousands of families.
HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODS IN THE PHILIPPINES!
Flash floods that hit at least two towns of Maguindanao province this week may cause a delay in the opening of classes there, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. In an update posted on its website Friday night, the NDRRMC said Pagalungan and Datu Montawal towns were still flooded, with the overflowing of the Pagalungan River and Rio Grande de Mindanao (Tunggol River) tagged as the cause. "Opening of classes in most schools (in Pagalungan) next week might not push through as floodwaters may take some time to subside especially at the Tunggol National High School, which is a few meters away from the Tunggol River," it said. The Pangalungan town council also convened last Thursday to declare a state of calamity, the NDRRMC added. Even official transactions at the Pagalungan municipal hall had been disrupted due to the floods, according to the NDRRMC. Moreover, it said some 400 families had been displaced due to the floods, with more than 50 of them staying in makeshift tents around the perimeter fence of the Datu Montawal Municipal Hall. "Classes in Datu Montawal might not start next week," it added. As of Friday, the NDRRMC said the floods had affected 8,878 families or 56,852 people in 23 villages in Pagalungan ad Datu Montawal. The floods also damaged 792 hectares of crops (rice, corn, and vegetables) worth some P7.887 million. - GMA News.

Floods caused by intermittent rains have affected 21 barangays in two towns in the northern areas of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the region’s Office of Civil Defense (OCD) announced Friday. Retired Army Gen. Loreto Rirao, OCD-ARMM director, identified the latest affected towns as Pagalungan and Datu Montawal in Maguindanao, along the Cotabato-Davao national highway, where the inundations have displaced more than 13,000 families as of Thursday. Rirao said recent downpours starting from storm “Chedeng” and outpouring from the mountains of Bukidnon and North Cotabato caused the Rio Grande de Mindanao to swell, submerging 12 of the 17 villages in Pagalungan, and nine of the 11 villages in Datu Montawal. Floodwaters displaced 8,878 families in Pagalungan, and 5,578 others in Datu Montawal, said Rirao, who coordinated with concerned government agencies in addressing the mass displacement woes... A total of 27 villages in four other towns of Maguindanao, and 29 villages in the 12 towns of Lanao del Sur had been submerged by floodwaters due to torrential rains brought by typhoon “Chedeng” – affecting a total of 20,446 families. - MB.
In
Indonesia, the persistent deluge of heavy rains flooded hundreds of homes and agricultural lands
THE INDONESIAN DELUGE!
Hundreds of houses in the village of Kutambaro, and Kutambaro Bencawan Village, District Lawe Month, Southeast Aceh district (Aceh Tenggara), since Wednesday at around 22:00 pm tonight through Thursday afternoon, as high as 50 centimeters inundated due to dike broken-down as long as 20 meters. While dozens of tons of carp which kept the population in the tens of hectares of ponds scattered off the road and settlements. Also submerged rice fields and transport currents in the area disturbed. ACIP, a resident of the Village Kutambaro Bencawan, the Porch, Thursday said the flooding was caused by breached levees along the 20 meters. He said the levee jebolnya already common in the rainy season because it is not installed on the edge of the river beronjong Kisam. Meanwhile, Camat Lawe Moon, Samanuddin, said the levee that burst was a long dike. This disaster occurred due to not able to accommodate a large flow of water due to rain so the water becomes large. While in the village river narrowed so was unable to accommodate the flow of water. "So, it should be immediately widened and constructed gabion to be safe from floods," said Camat Lawe Month. Watchlist Porch, hundreds of people lined the edge of the trench for carp fishing. There, they get a lot of carp float due to flooding of the river swept away. - Kutacaneku.
At least 150 hectares of rice fields ready for harvest in District Pamarican, Lakbok and Purwadadi Ciamis district inundated. To save tanamanna, forced farmers to harvest early. If the water does not recede soon, dikhawatrikan grain will rot. Meanwhile, for the harvest is also not an easy matter, because farmers had to muster the energy even harder to harvest. Also because of its location far enough away from a dry place, such as in fields that exist on the banks of irrigation canals, while farmers harvest should also bring a raft. Some wear raft made of banana tree trunk, there is also memergunakan wooden box that doubles as an emergency boat. Raft is to put the new rice crop is harvested, the next raft of banana tree trunks in drag to a dry place. Watchlist''PRLM ", Friday (6/03) in the Village District Kertahayu Pamarican mention flooding from overflow of the River Cintalahap and overflow of water from irrigation canals and channels Mount Gunung Putri Cupu. It is estimated that the flood will recede a long time, because the flow of water in main channel hampered irrigation narrow culvert under the main road between the town of Banjar - Pangandaran in wilayan it. - Pikiran-Rakyat.
In
India, the monsoon has not even set in and Jorhat is already under water, thanks to a bout of sudden rain that left the district reeling under floods for the last few days. Almost 60% of the city saw large-scale waterlogging.
MAJOR FLOODING IN INDIA!
Jorhat municipal board chairperson, Prasanta Bora, said, "Almost all the 19 wards have been affected by the rain, they are ward number 1, 3, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 18. Over 35,000 people and 7,000 households have been affected as of now." Asked about the cause behind the acute waterlogging, a technical expert from the Jorhat development authority said there were several reasons. Lack of proper planning and encroachment were two of the prime causes. "Rapid industrialization and a growing population were choking the city. The town is among the oldest in the state and lacks a master plan. Haphazard construction and clogged drains were adding to the problem," he said. Hundreds of people organized a road blockade at Lichubari in southern Jorhat on Monday in protest against the failures of the administration to provide a proper drainage system. Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chhatra Pariahad, Jorhat district unit, forwarded a memorandum to the deputy commissioner requesting adoption of early relief measures. In the memorandum, the organization demanded eviction of illegal encroachers from Tarajan, early completion of Na Ali construction works and construction of bridges in some areas. - Times of India.
Heavy rain lashing the state has caused landslides at various parts of the district. A landslide was reported at Ellapara on Wednesday night disrupting the vehicular movement on the Kottayam-Kattapana road for a few hours. A house was partially damaged in the incident. No casualties have been reported so far. The traffic was restored after clearing off the mud from the road. Another landslide was reported in the Kulamavu region on Thursday. No damage or casualty were reported as the landslide occurred in a remote area. - IBN Live.
As many as 7000 people were literally isolated from Coimbatore district when gushing rainwater swept away a portion of the Under Construction Bridge and temporary diversion route laid between Chemmedu and Iruttupallam on Pondy route, across Noyyal river near Velliangiri hills, on early Thursday morning. The region received incessant rainfall since late Wednesday night and the portion caved in at around 5 am. An alternate route for light motor vehicles is being laid through Kottaikkadu region but heavy vehicles are expected to use the alternate route only during the weekend, when the water level subsides and proper maintenance work is undertaken. - Times of India.
In
Malaysia, floods hit the northern state of Perlis.
FLOODING IN MALAYSIA!
Floods hit three areas in Perlis following continuous rain since Monday night, forcing 1,294 people to be evacuated from their homes to 20 relief centres. The worst hit was Kangar, where 870 victims were moved out to 10 relief centres. In Padang Besar, 380 flood victims were evacuated to eight areas and in Arau, 44 people were evacuated. A state flood operations centre spokesman said four roads Jalan Santan, Jalan Kangar-Padang Besar at Kampung Paya, a road in Taman Sena and another stretch in front of SMK Datuk Jaafar Hassan in Bukit Keteri were closed to traffic. “The water level is mostly between 0.3m and 1m deep,” the spokesman said, adding that the water levels at the three major rivers were still below the danger level. He added that water from the Timah Tasoh Dam was released to prevent overflow. In Baling, 1,000 people who were moved to eight relief centres since Tuesday night have returned home after the rain stopped at 2pm yesterday. Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said the state had yet to open its flood operations centre. “So far, the situation in Kedah is good except for a storm that damaged more than 200 houses,” he said. In Kuala Terengganu, the number of flood victims has gone down to just 45 as at 6pm yesterday. They are being housed at the Kampung Tok Mat and Bukit Payung civic halls, both in the Marang district. A state flood operations room spokesman said this was a vast improvement from the more than 1,000 evacuees from Marang and Dungun on Tuesday. He added, however, that many areas were still facing flash floods. - The Star.
In
Thailand, flash floods hits northern and southern provinces.
FLASH FLOODING IN THAILAND!Flash flooding hit many areas in Phisanulok’s Noen Maprang district on Monday, damaging houses and forcing a school to close temporarily. Overnight rainfall, measuring 140mm, resulted in torrential runoff on forested mountainsides, flooding homes in the foothills and numbers of villagers could not move their belongings to higher ground in time. Some areas are under one metre of water and local residents were forced to use boats for transport, while local authorities used flat-bottomed boats to bring aid to the villagers. Baan Nam Pad School was temporarily closed until the flood water recedes. Meanwhile, in Nakhon Sawan, five hours of heavy rain flooded many areas, including the provincial bus terminal. The metrological department reported a monsoon trough across the North, the Central and lower Northeastern regions, and warned residents of scattered rain, heavy rainfall and possible flash floods. - MCOT.
The Meteorological Department warned Phitsanulok, Phichit, Phetchabun, Chaiyaphum, Nong Bua Lam Phu and Loei. Aware of flash floods and flash flood. Department's meteorological warning ramp area at the foot hill six provinces, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Phetchabun, Chaiyaphum, Nong Bua Lam Phu and Loei. Be careful of dangerous flash floods. Different flash flows during this period. Normal weather at 10:00 pm today southwest monsoon. The wind covered the southern Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand is moderate. Look like this. Thailand is also the most common to scattered thundershowers. And heavy rain areas. We encourage people in risk areas. By the foot of the hill slopes near the water flows through the area including provinces Phitsanulok, Phichit Phetchabun, Chaiyaphum and I Nongbualamphu. Be careful of dangerous flash floods. Multi-phase flow in a flash for the Andaman Sea with wave height of 2 meters is more prudent to Mariners danger All ships should proceed with caution. Weather Forecast for Bangkok and its vicinity from today at 12:00 am - 12:00 am tomorrow. General thundershowers almost 70 percent of the area and some heavy rain. Minimum temperature 26 degrees maximum temperature 33-34 degrees southwest wind speed 15-35 km/h. - Post Today.
In
Egypt, heavy rains caused landslides that killed three persons.
EGYPT FLOODS AND LANDSLIDES!At least three people were killed, 17 injured in a sudden landslides occurred on the highway yesterday Karim, township Helwan, Egypt's capital Cairo. A local government official said Egypt, the Egyptians could not function warning before the drop unexpectedly land on the highway for people today. 3 passenger cars are launched in the city of Mina Helwan to have fallen into deep sinkholes on the road Karim 3m, length 50 m. The cause of road subsidence is attributed to heavy rain occurred in recent years in Egypt. Local rescuers were present immediately after the crash. But the injured was taken to the nearest hospitals. - VOV.
Stay tuned. More anon.