– cause flooding in Georgetown, several other coastal & low-lying areas
RESIDENTS in certain villages along Guyana’s coastland, as well as Georgetown  commuters, were forced to brave floods yesterday, true to advisories issued by the Hydrolometeorological Service, which stated that the highest tide during the current spring tide period would climax around  16:46 hrs and affect residents of  coastal, low-lying and riverine areas.
In down-town Georgetown, traffic slowed to a crawl as the ‘over-topping’ situation caused by the spring tide weather conditions took a disturbing turn, creating a bottleneck situation for the many persons desperate to go home. Particularly affected were the persons living along East Bank, West Bank and West Coast of Demerara, as the bus parks in Georgetown accommodating Routes 42, 31 and 32 respectively were inundated. Those persons who opted to cross over by using the Georgetown to Vreed-en-Hoop ferry service were also affected, as a section of the wharf was under water.
The situation extended outside of this area as well, and a quick check revealed persons wading along Water Street, America Street and other parts of Georgetown commercial centres.
The hydrometrological service said that occasional heavy showers in recent days over most of northern Guyana are expected to continue for a while and the situation is being monitored.
A  weather update issued yesterday stated that the showers and thunderstorms associated with a weak area of low pressure near the Windward Islands, which extend to just north west outside of Guyana, changed little during yesterday.
“This system continues to show signs of organisation and environmental conditions appear favourable for some gradual development as the low moves slowly westward. There is a 40 per cent chance of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours”, the department said.
It said that as a result of this instability nearby, occasional periods of heavy rains were expected over the northern half of Guyana (Regions One to Seven).
Gusty winds, especially in areas of heavy showers/thundershowers, are also expected, it said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority has mobilised and deployed equipment and engineers to support the Sea Defence Unit of the Ministry of Public Works and other local government bodies to deal with overtopping of river banks and sea defence structures.
The Hydrometeorological Service is advising that Guyana is not under any tropical storm threat, watch or warning.
It said it is closely monitoring this weather situation and will issue another update if the situation warrants.

The spring tide period started and will end on 12th September 2010. Sea conditions are very likely to be disturbed, with waves exceeding 2.5 meters in open waters becoming rough at times”, the Hydromet Service reported.

HIGH ALERT
Meanwhile, engineers and other workers in the Sea and River Defence Division of the Public Works Ministry are to remain on high alert until Sunday, when the last of the spring tides is expected to occur.

Yesterday, the highest Spring tide for the year, saw waves reaching 3.36 metres and this morning, another tide measuring over three metres is expected.

Chief Sea and River Defence Officer, Mr Jeffrey Vaughn, in an invited comment last night, said yesterday was “quite a tasking one” for his staff and other employees in the regions.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle via telephone, as he was returning to the City after visiting the villages on the East Bank of Demerara, in particular the communities of Craig, Grove and Diamond which were severely affected by flood waters, Vaughn reported that almost all of the riverine areas, including the Mahaica River, had been affected due to the “exceptionally high” spring tide yesterday.
Vaughn said he observed during the visit to Craig that repair works  done earlier in the day on a previous failure, had once again collapsed as a result of the high tide.
He said while workers of the department were trying to cope, they are faced against “an act of nature” which is completely out of their control.
He explained that with the ongoing heavy rainfall in the hinterland and the water running down and overflowing the riverbanks, it has further compounded the situation.
Vaughn alluded to recent flooding in Brazil and Guatemala which, he said, was as a result of a similar situation.

BERBICIANS CAUGHT OFF-GUARD
Several areas were flooded in Berbice, mainly between New Amsterdam and the low-lying communities along the East Bank of the Berbice river.
The worst hit were the Glasgow and Edinburgh villages, as the waters reached knee-high.
This resulted in a traffic nightmare, and persons returning home from work and school were caught in a traffic that was barely moving for hours.
In fact, public transportation was halted as vehicle owners did not venture into the waters for fear of having to undergo unnecessary repairs to their vehicles, due to an intake of the salted water.
Although
an advisory was issued earlier yesterday, from the  Meteorological Centre, the spring tide  still caught many motorists and businesses off guard.
In New Amsterdam,  Sam Hughes Central Machine Shop, Guyana Stores (Berbice Branch), and the New Amsterdam Municipal Market, the Shell Gas Station and within the precincts of the New Amsterdam Ferry Stelling, were all inundated with flood waters which started to rise just after 16:00 hrs.
A resident of Overwinning Village, North of the New Amsterdam township, who preferred not to be named, but allowed his photograph to be taken, said he has been a resident for over forty years and this is the first time that he has observed such a  high level of  flood water in the area.
(Additional reporting from Jeune Bailey Vankeric in Berbice)