Trouble in the Caribbean seas.......

[ladyscorpio]

High Seas pounding my lil island...

Barbados and St. Lucia were bracing for "significant" high waves as a result of a deep low pressure system centred over the North Atlantic.

According to the Barbados-based Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), the waves are expected to begin affecting the islands from Wednesday.

The Barbados Meteorological Office said the outlook for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean indicated that by Wednesday "the front is forecasted to drift southwards across the island chain with increasing north-easterly winds resulting in a gradual deterioration in sea-swells over the Eastern Caribbean".

"Swells in the region of four to five metres (12 to 16 feet) are expected over the coastal waters surrounding Barbados from late Wednesday into early Thursday," it added.

The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) in St. Lucia said it was monitoring the situation and local contingency measures were being identified.

The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) Barbados also said it was aware of the situation and was also putting arrangements in place.

CDERA has also urged the public to note the possibility of significant sea swells over the next two days. The agency assured that it would monitor the situation and provide updates when necessary.

Meanwhile, a cold front moving across the local area was producing scattered showers and gusty winds in the British Virgin Islands and officials there said the system was generating "very large swells which should reach the local waters" by Wednesday.

"As the swells arrive, marine conditions will continue to deteriorate and large swells approaching the local area may be in excess of 9 to 12 feet increasing to 16 feet or more, later in the evening," they said.

The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) said it was urging residents and visitors to "exercise extreme caution while venturing out to swim as deadly rip currents and strong-break-to shore waves will be present".

"Mariners should exercise extreme caution in securing and operating vessels as these waves are supposed to be larger than usual and may create very hazardous conditions," the officials said.

CMC

 

[ladyscorpio]

http://mullinsbay.blogspot.com/2008/03/mullins-beach-washed-out-to-sea.html


Rough seas damaging reefs

The heavy waves experienced along Barbados' coastline are battering underwater reefs.

Director of the Coastal Zone Management Unit Dr. Leo Brewster says the intensity of the under water pull associated with the weather system has severely damaged the reefs, and a lot of sand is also being lost.

And, as disaster management officials continue their assessment of the damage across the island, the tourism sector is beginning to feel the impact of the weather system which has brought rough seas along the west and east coast.

Executive Vice President of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Authority Sue Springer says several hotels along the west coast have reported some damage.

She says restaurants in some hotels have been closed due their close proximity to the water and several metres of sand have disappeared and have now been replaced with rubble.

 

[AlexandMorgan]

Mullins beach

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHzQn1yalto

[flash]http://www.youtube.com/v/eHzQn1yalto[/flash]

 

[ladyscorpio]

Young sailor rescued in rough seas

A young sailor is recuperating Friday after nearly losing his life at sea.

Neil Burke was injured last evening while sailing on a vessel headed to St. Lucia. He was rescued by a group of seafarers from Barbados including Senator Peter Gilkes and taken to hospital.

The incident happened as sea goers and fishermen continue to monitor sea conditions.

Mr. Gilkes says he cannot blame the incident on the strong waves but notes that the swells were very high.

 

[ladyscorpio]

People in Barbados just don't know how to listen.

The unusually high sea swells affecting the island were Thursday being blamed for the drowning of an elderly man at a beach on the outskirts of the capital.

Eyewitnesses said the man went into the water at Brandons Beach around 9 a.m. but got into difficulty soon afterwards. The sea there and along other parts of the island's coasts have been characterised by strong waves as a deep low pressure weather system in the Atlantic continues to affect Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) here warned since Tuesday that swells around four to five metres, or 12 to 16 feet, were expected over the coastal waters surrounding the island from late Wednesday and into early Thursday.

Noel Austin, who accompanied the elderly man to the beach this morning admitted there were red flags on the beach when they arrived, indicating danger and that swimming was therefore not advised.

He said they still ventured into the water, but he emerged after realising the waters were too rough. Unfortunately, Austin said, his friend dismissed his advice to do the same.

Meantime, operations at the Bridgetown Port were also affected.

Marketing Manager Freida Nicholls said three cruise ships were forced to leave the island because of the hazardous sea conditions.

"They attempted to berth this morning but the strong swells made it unsafe, and even tendering was ruled out as unsafe," she said.

Tendering is where cruise ships are anchored offshore and lifeboats used to transport passengers to the dockside.

"The port is also unable to work cargo ships but is open for deliveries," Nicholls added.

"We will just continue to monitor the sea conditions and our decisions will be made in the interest of the safety of all the vessels."

Meanwhile in St Lucia hotels on the island's north and east coasts were Thursday receiving a battering from huge waves caused by a deep low pressure weather system in the Atlantic.

As nine to 12-foot surges began affecting the country, some establishments reported that sea surges accompanying the system sent water into rooms and other sections of the properties.

Scores of boat owners took refuge in the sheltered harbourage of Marigot Bay along the west coast to ride out the waves, while beachgoers heeded advice to stay out of the waters.

However, what started out as a routine weather advisory by the Meteorological Office turned into a major public relations exercise for officials of the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) as residents panicked that a tsunami was about to hit the island.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Senator Tessa Mangal who chaired a Wednesday meeting of the National Emergency Action Committee (NEMAC) to discuss the country's readiness sought to dispel the rumours.

"The Met Office has advised that it will be giving updates on this activity on every hour. We are appealing to the public to listen to the advisories from the Met Office and not deal with any speculation in the public domain," she said.

"The official word is given by the Met Office, and the National Emergency Management Organisation, keeping the public updated as far as the system is concerned, and they have confirmed that the islands are not going to be affected by a tsunami."

Director of the St. Lucia Met Services Thomas Auguste said swells will increase to 12 to 15 feet through Thursday and into Friday morning.

"By Saturday swells should be back to normal levels," he said. "It doesn't pose a very great danger to most people apart from people who live along the coast. Persons bathing in the sea, tourists and others who use the seashore should take heed," he said.

CMC

 

[AlexandMorgan]

Lots of exposed roots and foundations on the coast so far but Port St Charles and Almond which have rocks to act as breakwaters in the sea did not fare so badly.

Unfortunately the beaches further south like Folkstone did not fare as well. They have lost most of the sand and the rocks are exposed.

 

[ladyscorpio]

Thanks Alex. I hope to see you post more pics

 

[Harlem's Angel]

Oh no! where will I vacation now??? Oh and the people! lol j/k Lady S don't kill me... That is terrible to hear. All of these violent natural occurrences are really worryin me. Mother Nature aint the one to play with...

 

[ladyscorpio]

Oh no! where will I vacation now??? Oh and the people! lol j/k Lady S don't kill me... That is terrible to hear. All of these violent natural occurrences are really worryin me. Mother Nature aint the one to play with...

B'dos is resilient. So are the people. As for mother nature We are destroying our earth why wouldn't it fight us.

 

[AlexandMorgan]

Oh no! where will I vacation now??? Oh and the people! lol j/k Lady S don't kill me... That is terrible to hear. All of these violent natural occurrences are really worryin me. Mother Nature aint the one to play with...

I have never seen those tits of that quality vintage on our fair isle.

 

[Harlem's Angel]

I have never seen those tits of that quality vintage on our fair isle.

Well I usually venture to the Bahamas. Should give the other islands a chance. Check for me around August/September. Thats when I usually go.

 

[bajan_4_life29]

Aaaaaaawwwwwwwww Damn My Lil Island Taking A Beating. Going To Have To Give The Fam A Call. Thanks For The Heads Up Lady