Eastern wave will cause rain this Sunday and three more are forecast before the end of October
This is the wave from the east number 22 that will enter the country this Sunday, October 16, with a moisture load that will bring rain accompanied by electrical activityaccording to forecaster Cleofas Culajay, from the National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (Insivumeh).
The conditions could remain until Monday throughout the national territory due to the remnants of moisture, although to a greater extent It will affect the regions of the bocacosta, the west, the central highlands, the Northern Transversal Strip, the Petén, and the eastern valleys.
The Insivumeh monitors the approach of three more wavesPossibly two will enter the next week and one more in the last week of October, as part of the rainy season that has not yet ended in the country.
According to Culajay, “in the first fortnight of November it is likely that these systems stop coming, because the rainy season is about to end. It is expected that at least these two remaining weeks of October will see some rain due to some waves from the east.
The forecaster points out that soil saturation is high in much of the country, so it is not ruled out that some flash floods of the river will continue to occur as these waves from the east pass through the national territory, as well as landslides and lahars in the volcanic chain, so it is still on alert regarding these inconveniences.
On alert
Tropical storm Julia left in its wake more than 965 thousand people affected, 32 thousand 562 were evacuated because they were in risk areas, while the number of sheltered is 8 thousand 79.
Also read: How to minimize the impact of the rains in Guatemala? The answer lies in investment
In the tragedy, 15 people also died, and three are missing.according to the latest report from the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred).
There was also damage to infrastructure and more than 15,000 homes are at slight, moderate and severe risk. There are 290 roads affected, 14 bridges and seven roads destroyed.
There are 49 municipalities that are at high risk due to the rains that may occur as a result of the east wave, and those that may continue until October 21 due to the humidity that remains in the environment, which affects the high saturation of the soil. The Conred report indicates that these are located in the departments of Chimaltenango, Huehuetenango, Quetzaltenango, San Marcos and Totonicapán.
To determine the probability that the territories could be affected by the passage of the easterly wave, an analysis is made by crossing the information of the municipalities affected by the passage of tropical storm Julia, the water saturation in the soils at the municipal level, the probability of precipitation that is expected and the historical maps of where there have been incidents due to rain.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
For October 16, 2022.#INSIVUMEHGeoscientific development for all. #SomosINSIVUMEH #Guatemala #ClimaGt pic.twitter.com/fNpz649hzo– INSIVUMEH Guatemala (@insivumehgt) October 15, 2022
Rodolfo García, spokesman for the Conred, reports that the departmental delegates and local authorities of the different municipalities of the country are already informed of the places with the greatest probability of rain that may occur in the coming days, so that they can activate their response plans for any incident. He adds that rainfall may extend until Friday, October 21.
There are 1,855 shelters that are prepared to start operating in the face of any emergency.
