A series of tropical waves interacting with the Intertropical Convergence Zone brought beneficial rainfall to Trinidad and Tobago between June 8th and 11th. There were sporadic reports of wind damage, fallen trees, flooding, and even a funnel cloud spotted near the Piarco International Airport. While significant rainfall did accumulate across the country during the four-day period, due to very dry soils, flooding was limited, and river levels generally remained below 25% to 50%.
As of midnight (12:00 AM) June 12th, there have been reports of at least 10 areas affected by power outages, three reports of roof damage, 14 reports of fallen trees, one report of a fallen utility pole, 20 reports of flooding, three reports of a landslide, one report of a diesel/oil spill and one report of a funnel cloud.
These figures are based on reports from the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), the Ministry of Rural Development and Local Government (MoRDLG), the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC), and reports submitted and collated by the Trinidad and Tobago Weather Center (TTWC).
What happened?
This was a fairly well-forecast event, first mentioned in our seas forecast on June 6th and then in the weather forecast on June 7th. The first tropical wave, Tropical Wave 05, moved across Trinidad and Tobago during the morning of June 8th through the afternoon, priming the atmosphere for what was to come and bringing the Intertropical Convergence Zone across the country. Tropical Wave 06 moved across the country during the morning of June 10th, and Tropical Wave 07 moved across T&T overnight June 10th into the 11th.
The latter two waves produced notable rainfall totals across the country, particularly due to favorable atmospheric conditions and well within our initial forecast ranges.
Across both islands, rainfall accumulations ranged between one and three inches (25 and 75 millimeters), with isolated totals exceeding four inches (100 millimeters), mainly across southern and eastern areas of Trinidad, as well as localized areas of northwestern Trinidad. On average, Piarco records 243.4 millimeters of rainfall for a typical June, while Crown Point records 155.6 millimeters.
The forecast played out generally as expected as well, with the heaviest rainfall occurring on Monday, June 10th, and Tuesday, June 11th, 2024.
On Tuesday, June 11th, 2024, in particular, persisting overnight rainfall with thunderstorms and heavy showers led to a number of damage reports during the day. Due to increasing flood concerns and the potential for strong winds, the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service issued a late-notice Adverse Weather Alert for the country, which went into effect six minutes after issuance at 6:20 AM Tuesday.
However, most of the adverse weather conditions occurred prior to this alert being issued, and conditions generally remained settled on land for most of Tuesday until after the alert was discontinued at 1:36 PM. Heavy showers and thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon into the night, producing heavy rainfall, street flooding, and power outages across a wide area of central Trinidad due to frequent lightning.
Which areas were affected?
Nine out of the fourteen municipal corporations across Trinidad and Tobago reported some level of impact. Overall, this was a fairly low-impact event for the country, primarily due to dry soils absorbing most of the rainfall and limiting runoff.
However, due to intense lightning during the late afternoon on Tuesday, many areas of southern and central Trinidad reported a temporary power outage.
Based on TTWC’s count, the Diego Martin Borough Corporation and the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation recorded the most impactful events.
Diego Martin Borough Corporation
Fallen trees, occurring between June 10th and 11th, were reported at Carenage; Saddle Road, Maraval; Hillsborough, Maraval, where trees fell onto power lines; Factory Road Estate, Diego Martin and Paramin.
Flooding was reported on June 9th on the Western Main Road, Cocorite, and then on June 10th along the Diego Martin Main Road. Flooding on June 11th included Goodwood Gardens and Poinsettia Drive, Petit Valley.
Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation
Flooding was reported on June 10th on Freeman Road, Macoya. Most of the flooding occurred on June 11th at Pasea Road, all eastbound lanes of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway in the vicinity of Pasea, and within El Dorado along the Eastern Main Road and Pentecostal Road.
Two landslides were reported on St. John’s Road, St. Augustine and at Buena Vista Street, St. Joseph. Roof damage was also reported at Green Street, Tunapuna.
The most unusual sight of this inclement weather period was the sighting of a funnel cloud west of the Piarco International Airport, captured by Anderson Mahabir. It is still unknown whether this funnel cloud briefly touched down, becoming a short-lived tornado. If it did, it would have done so in an open field west of the airport.
Sangre Grande Regional Corporation
Fallen trees occurred at Gilkes Street, Sangre Grande and the Coryal Secondary School at Cumuto Tamana Road, where the tree fell and damaged the school’s fence.
Heavy thunderstorms on Tuesday afternoon also led to flooding along Little Coora Road and Sangre Chiquito. Roof damage was also reported at Flemming Road, Fishing Pond, where the Disaster Management Unit provided the family with a tarp.
Princes Town Regional Corporation
A fallen tree was reported at Church Road, Sixth Company, Indian Walk, where the tree came down on someone’s property. Wind damage and flooding were also reported at St. Croix Road, Princes Town, with additional flood reports at Fifth Street, Corinth Settlement, Ste. Madeline and along the Naparima Mayaro Road in Tableland.
Port of Spain City Corporation
Street flooding was reported within Port of Spain at Abattoir Road, South Quay at City Gate and the Eastern Main Road in Lavantille, just on the border of the San Juan/Lavantille Regional Corporation.
A fallen tree led to a collapsed wall at Jackson Street, Port of Spain, on June 10th.
San Juan/Lavantille Regional Corporation
Fallen trees, occurring on June 11th, were reported at La Filette and 2nd Caledonia Street, Morvant. Flooding was also reported at the base of the onramp to the Uriah Butler Highway (southbound) from the eastbound Churchill Roosevelt Highway.
Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Corporation
A fallen tree was reported along Brasso Caparo Valley Road in Brasso in the vicinity of Massa Nature Park, while flooding was reported at Calcutta #2, Freeport.
Tobago
The Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) responded to a “threatening” landslide in Moriah, while the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service responded to a diesel spill at Government House, Scarborough.
Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation
Fallen trees were reported at Agostini and Navet in Mayaro.
Penal/Debe Regional Corporation
Flooding was reported on June 10th on Goldconda Connector Road, Union Hall, in the vicinity of VMCOTT, rendering the roadway temporarily impassable.
No impacts were reported in the area of responsibility of the Chaguanas Borough Corporation, the San Fernando City Corporation, the Siparia Borough Corporation, or the Point Fortin Borough Corporation.
Update at 3:40 PM June 12th: The Arima Borough Corporation reported a fallen tree impacting T&TEC lines in the vicinity of Action Ceziar Road, behind Rancho Tropical.