All schools in St. Vincent and the Grenadines will remain closed on Wednesday as a precautionary measure in light of the weather system expected to begin affecting the country Tuesday night.
The National Emergency Council (NEC) of NEMO in consultation with the Ministry of Education agreed to keep schools closed as a result of the weather system.
The St. Vincent Meteorological Office has advised that there will be pockets of moderate to heavy showers, periods of rain, thunderstorms, and winds gusting to storm force are likely to spread across the country late Tuesday night into Wednesday.
Further, the Minister of Health, as a consequence of the advisories issued by NEMO has decided , that there will be no district clinics on Wednesday.
Further, there will be no outpatient services or elective surgeries at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital on Wednesday.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Luis de Shong said in a statement Tuesday evening that persons are reminded that they should immediately secure their medication in a plastic or zip-lock bag, and in the event that they have to relocate they should take their medication with them in the very plastic or zip- lock bag.
“Patients with medication that requires refrigeration are advised to allow the medication to remain refrigerated and to avoid opening the refrigerator often in the event of a power outage,” de Shong said.
“Persons are advised to monitor their radio or social media for further bulletins issued by the National Emergency Management Organization and the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment and to remain safe and alert.
The 5 p.m. weather update from the SVG Meteorological Service said that a strong tropical wave is about 470 statute miles (530 km) to the east of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The system continues to track west to west-northwest at about 15 to miles per hour or 24 to 32 kilometres per hour and is still showing signs of becoming better organised with most of the deep convection remaining to the north of the broad centre.
A Hurricane Hunter aircraft investigated the system Tuesday afternoon and was not able to find a closed surface circulation.
However, environmental conditions remain conducive for continued gradual development over the next 12 to 24 hours, and a tropical depression/tropical storm could form at any time during the course of Tuesday night or early Wednesday.
Regardless of tropical cyclone development, pockets of moderate to heavy showers, periods of rain, thunderstorms, and winds gusting to storm force are likely to spread across the island late Tuesday night into Wednesday.
Rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches (100 to 200 millimetres) are possible with higher amounts likely in more elevated areas.
In addition, swells of 4 to 5 meters (12 to 15 feet) are expected in open water.
NEMO continues to urge all mariners and fisher folks to secure their boats and fishing gears.
All residents living in the following low-lying coastal areas are asked to continue to monitor the situation and be prepared to evacuate at short notice if it becomes necessary, and know where the nearest emergency shelter is located:
Colonaire, Byera, Gorse, Black Point, Grand Sable Georgetown, Langley Park, Sandy Bay, Orange Hill Chateaubelair, Clare Valley, Rose Place, Buccament Bay, Layou, Barroaullie, Biabou, Calliaqua, Villa, Indian Bay, Arnos Vale, Sion Hill, Questelles, Keartons.