The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) has announced that the Flash Flood Watch for the Virgin Islands has been upgraded to a Flash Flood Warning which will remain in effect up to 8:00 pm this evening August 22, 2014. Image: DDM

Dark clouds covered the Territory today August 22, 2014 as the disturbed weather continues. Photo: VINO

Evidence of the disturbed weather occurring over the Territory. Photo: VINO

Information and Education Manager of the DDM Philomena N. Robertson said the Territory is likely to continue experiencing these conditions into tonight. Photo: Provided

"A Flash Flood Warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring in the warned area. A flash flood is a sudden, violent flood after heavy rain. Rainfall intensity and duration, topography, soil conditions and ground cover are factors which contribute to flash flooding," said the DDM in its latest bulletin.

The DDM issues bulletins based on information received from the Antigua and Barbuda Met. Services.

"Residents of the Territory are being encouraged to continue monitoring weather conditions. The warnings for mariners and sea bathers remain in effect as seas are locally rough with waves of seven to eight feet," the bulletin said.

It said too that the DDM will continue to monitor the forecasts and provide updates accordingly.

In a comment to this news site today August 22, 2014, Information and Education Manager of the DDM Philomena N. Robertson said that in the case of a flood watch, it means that flooding may occur. However she said that in the case of a warning, flooding is imminent, hence the importance of persons making preparations and taking precautions.

See previous story published on August 22, 2014:

Flash Flood Watch in effect – DDM

-could be elevated to a Flash Flood Warning; rains expected into tonight

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) has extended its flash flood watch - issued last night August 21, 2014 – to midday today August 22, 2014 and said residents must continue to monitor weather conditions in the event that it is upgraded to a Flash Flood Warning.

“The warnings for mariners and sea bathers remain in effect as seas are locally rough with waves of seven to eight feet,” said the DDM bulletin.

It said that the area of disturbed weather associated with a tropical wave and low pressure centre that is currently affecting the Eastern Caribbean, will continue to heighten the chances for cloudiness and showers today and tonight.

“Today, the skies will be cloudy with scattered showers. Some of the showers could be moderate to heavy at times and accompanied by isolated thunderstorms. Tonight, skies will be partly cloudy to cloudy with scattered showers,” it said.

“Winds are South-easterly to South South-easterly at five to ten knots, gusting higher in showers. Barometric Pressure is below normal,” the bulletin stated.

It noted that a recent satellite wind data pass indicates that Disturbance 1 has become slightly less defined over the past six to nine hours. “Due to the current organisational state of the disturbance, as well as the latest model guidance, forecasters do not expect it to develop within the next 24 hours,” it said.

“It is expected to become a tropical depression on Saturday as it moves through the Turks and Caicos Islands. It should become a tropical storm by late Saturday or early Sunday as the forward motion slows down in the vicinity of the south-eastern Bahamas,” the bulletin stated.

Speaking to Virgin Islands News Online today, Information and Education Manager of the DDM Philomena N. Robertson said, “We have been experiencing the effects of the system since yesterday. We would have had a lot of rainfall hence the reason for the Flash Flood Watch that was issued last night.”

She said that the Territory is likely to continue experiencing these conditions into tonight. “The system is actually passing over the BVI now and should be moving away from us in the next few hours or so and conditions should improve thereafter but we are still likely to experience some showers,” said Robertson.

She said that people must exercise caution at this stage, advising persons in low lying areas to be on the lookout for flood waters. “Proceed with caution but if it appears too dangerous then don’t proceed at all,” she said.

Robertson noted that the small craft advisory issued yesterday is still in effect because the sea conditions are rough.

“We have the latest forecast saying that the wave height is up to 7 to 8 feet, so small craft should really stay close to shore at this point,” she said, noting that normal wave height is about 5 feet.