Tropical Storm Helene leaves flooding in its wake
(CNS) UPDATED 11am: As Grand Cayman continued under a tropical storm watch Tuesday morning, TC9 became Tropical Storm Helene, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 11am bulletin. While the storm is moving away from the Cayman Islands, the wet weather is continuing as the centre passes around 190 miles to the west of Grand Cayman, moving at around 12mph.
The NHC said Helene had acquired a well-defined centre of circulation, and maximum sustained winds have increased to nearly 45mph with higher gusts. Further strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to become a hurricane tomorrow.
8:00am ORIGINAL POST: Grand Cayman continues to be under a tropical storm warning as Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 passes the island, according to the Cayman Islands National Weather Service. Residents are strongly urged to remain indoors and off the roads as the storm continues to pose a risk to the island. At 7:00am TC9 was 109 miles west-southwest of Grand Cayman and over 200 miles from the Sister Islands, moving northwest at nine miles per hour, with maximum sustained winds of about 35mph.
Chief Meteorologist Kerry Powery said that rains and gusty winds may bring more flooding, especially to areas that are already flooded. However, TC9 is now moving away from the Cayman Islands, and while the storm is expected to intensify, conditions here will improve from this afternoon.
The Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) closed both the Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman and the Charles Kirkconnel International Airport on Cayman Brac on Monday evening, 23 September. Therefore, Cayman Airways has cancelled domestic and international flights today, Tuesday, 24 September.
However, CAL said in a release that a single inbound flight from Havana is expected to land on Grand Cayman late on Tuesday, weather permitting and with the approval of the CIAA. All other flights will resume once the all-clear is given by the Cayman Islands Government and the GCM airport reopens.
Passengers affected by the flight cancellations will be accommodated on flights scheduled for Wednesday, 25 September, and will be directly notified regarding the changes.
The courts are all closed today. All summary cases scheduled for today have been rolled to next Tuesday. Retail banks remain closed until the all-clear is given, and customers are encouraged to use ATMs for cash withdrawals and deposits.
The Health Services Authority closed its services on Grand Cayman this morning, including elective surgeries, outpatient clinics, pharmacies, district health centres, urgent care, therapy services, mental health, phlebotomy, radiology, dental and eye clinics. Patients will be contacted directly to reschedule appointments.
A release from the HSA said the weather conditions will be reevaluated at noon, and the public will be advised of the outcome. A&E will still operate 24 hours, but people are urged to stay home unless it is a true medical emergency.
On the Sister Islands, the HSA is operating as normal.
The Meals on Wheels charity has advised that deliveries are disrupted as volunteers cannot be placed in danger.
See Powery’s morning update on CIGTV below:
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Category: Science & Nature, Weather
there is still a puddle by the drain near spot bay school. pass the word on please. I tried but everyone in government on Brac seems to be off today.
They did out a drain in the pond across from the Lions Center corner.
Just passed the stretch of LPH that was paved 2 days ago and it was 3 feet underwater. Whoever planned and approved that deserves a promotion.
Franzies for all!
Amazing how the drains are the highest part of the road!
Also installed to Lick your left-side suspension every time.
More like flogged- promoted and fired in one sitting
#WorldClass Civil Service
You fools.
You seen the property values for canal front?
I think someone at NRA has rental properties at Downtown Reach, Yarl etc and wants to re-market them as, “waterfront living at its finest”.
re-open the schools asap.
closing schools because there are some partially flooded roads in some limited areas…is a joke.
Any excuse not to work.
This is an island in which the loudest demands for change are to legalise cannabis and gambling. That speaks to the native work ethic.
The assortment of morons and window-lickers which purports to be government apparently perceives that giving people days off work is a no-lose proposition for them. Sadly, they’re probably correct.
Background reading:
https://caymannewsservice.com/2023/09/donkeys-developers-and-deaf-ears
The resignation of a key figure from the Cayman Islands government highlights ongoing tensions around development, environmental protection, and political transparency. The government’s lack of cohesion stems from conflicting interests, particularly between a green agenda and the powerful development lobby. Over-development and population growth, despite public concern, continue due to the influence of developers funding political campaigns. The opaque nature of campaign financing contributes to these issues. Sustainable governance remains a challenge as short-term political fortunes take precedence over long-term environmental and societal wellbeing. Without systemic reform and a united political platform, achieving true sustainability remains elusive.
https://caymannewsservice.com/2024/09/ideas-and-oratory-versus-fridgocracy/
This article critiques the state of democracy in the Cayman Islands, highlighting a pervasive system of “fridgocracy,” where votes are bought with gifts and favours rather than won through ideas. This undermines genuine democracy, leading to corruption and diminished political competence. The UK is aware of this but chooses to intervene only when it affects financial services. The author calls for action, including educating voters, enforcing anti-corruption laws, and encouraging bright, capable candidates to engage in politics without resorting to vote-buying, in order to preserve democratic integrity.
Schools are closed in Lebanon as well.
and Gaza (oops except for the ones still being used by sewer rat terrorists)
Please go away!
You all are not going to do well when you move to Scotland.
These are not tropical storm conditions. Closing the island for some good rain is like when Atlanta shuts down after a light dusting of snow.
if only the NRA followed their own guidelines for stormwater management, we wouldnt have a lot of the flooding problems we have. new subidivisons require 2 drains every 100feet. why hasnt this new standard been applied to our current roads? gov being cheap, nothing new.
rules for thee and not for me. The NRA is beyond incompetent in almost every way shape and form, especially when it comes to stormwater management which somehow they impose stringent rules on builders and homeowners and yet do not for themselves. The LPH floods like a MF and again they do not care. They’re too busy paving it at the slowest pace ever seen on God’s green earth.
The NRA are part of the World Class Civil Service (AKA ‘The Alternative NAU’). What did you expect?
Bring in first-worlders to build the roads on a competitive tendering basis, overseen by auditors, and watch standards improve. Oh no, there would be no kick-backs, cushy non-jobs, and easy sinecures then, would there.
12:29. No there are not. The fact that they have the world Authority in their name is a dead give a way. The NRA is run by a private sector board. Just like the Airports Authority and awfulreg
Education is so important.
Should have tried harder with yours!
Very happy you didn’t with yours. Normal big rain and Boom! No traffic. Loven it.