Bajan Fire Fighters Blog

A wave of charged particles from an intense solar storm is pummeling the Earth right now, which may trigger stunning aurora displays and cause minor disruptions to satellites and other communications equipment over the next two days, NASA scientists say. The storm began when a powerful solar flare erupted on the sun yesterday (Jan. 23), blasting a stream of charged particles toward Earth. This electromagnetic burst, called a coronal mass ejection (CME), hit Earth at about 9:31 a.m. EST (1430 GMT), according to scientists at the Space Weather Center at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Several NASA satellites, including the Solar Dynamics Observatory, the Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), and the Stereo spacecraft observed the massive sun storm. Data from these spacecraft were combined to help scientists create models to calculate when and where the CME was going to hit Earth.

The large low pressure system 650 miles east of the northern Windward Islands (12.9N 51.2W) is becoming better organised. On its present track, the leading edge of the cloud mass will begin to affect Barbados by this afternoon, with some pockets of moderate to heavy showers, isolated thunderstorms and occasional gusty winds spreading across the island. Indications are that some of this activity will persist into Monday. Residents should remain on the alert, and continue to monitor any further updates.

Personnel from the Northern Division of the Barbados Fire Service were mobilized from around 0051 hrs this morning to assist several persons who found themselves trapped by flood waters caused as a result of persistent rain. Firefighters responded to Mile and A Quarter, St. Peter where an elderly lady had to be rescued from her home and taken to safety. Personnel also responded to reports of persons trapped at Rose Hill, Gills Terrace and Queens Street, Speightstown in St. Peter. One fire tender and its crew also became a casualty of the deluge after they encountered gushing water while responding to a report of persons trapped in a vehicle at Colleton, St. Lucy. After a very hectic night, firefighters were still actively engaged in rescue operations today as requests for assistance were coming into the Control Room from residents at Maycocks and Checker Hall in St. Lucy. Above photo: Flood waters in Speightstown, St. Peter early this morning. (e-Report photo by Ghost TattooZ)

The Atlantic hurricane season unofficially starts on June 1 and if forecasters at Colorado State University are correct, it will be a very active season. The team predicts activity to be at 175 percent of normal, a level sure to cause concern among residents in the western Atlantic. The 2010 hurricane season was a busy one and saw the third most named s... but mercifully, none made landfall in the United States. For the 2011 season the CSU team expects things to be slightly calmer but still far above normal. CSU forecasters are calling for 16 named storms during the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season. Of those they expect nine will become hurricanes and five of those will be major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). These estimates far exceed the historical 1950 to 2000 average. During that period the Atlantic averaged 9.6 named storms per year, 5.9 hurricanes and 2.3 major hurricanes. The team warned that whether a hurricane forecast calls for above or below normal act...

Residents of Barbados are asked to note that a High Surf Advisory will be in effect for Barbados from 12:00 noon today Sunday, February 6, 2011 until Friday, February 11, 2011. Strong surface winds of twenty to twenty-five knots (20 to 25kts) will generate large easterly swells over the Tropical Atlantic. A deterioration in sea conditions is expected late Sunday when swells are expected to peak near 4.0meters (13ft). Forecast models are indicating that these conditions will persist until Friday 11th February. Hence a Small Craft Warning will be in effect from Saturday 5th February and a High Surf Advisory will be in effect from Sunday 6th February until Friday 11th February. A High-Surf Advisory means that seas will generate very large breaking waves and dangerous rip currents mainly along northeastern, eastern and southeastern coastal waters of Barbados. All users of these coastal areas are advised to be vigilant for large breaking waves surging onto the shore and should stay clear of...

The tail end of the tropical wave will maintain cloudy to overcast skies, scattered showers and a few isolated thunderstorms over the Leewards and northern Windward islands during the next twelve to twenty-four hours. As the system moves further into the Caribbean Sea, the deepest convection will be restricted to the extreme northern islands. Meanwhile a westward moving trough system (now over the Guianas), coupled with a moist southeasterly low level flow, will enhance instability over the south triggering some scattered showers and possible isolated thunderstorms over Barbados and the other southern islands. Showers will persist into Sunday as the wave moves south of the area. Thereafter some drying out of the atmosphere is anticipated, however this will be short-lived as another wave will move across the region late Tuesday/Wednesday. Compliments: Barbados Meteorological Service