By Marlon Madden
A wave of severe thunderstorms lashed Barbados on Monday, downing trees and disrupting electricity supply, as the strong tail-end of Tropical Storm Phillippe brushed the island while the centre of the cyclone moved towards the northern Leeward Islands.
The severe weather, which followed consecutive days of intense heat, brought gusty winds, heavy downpours, and numerous lightning strikes, causing significant disruptions.
The Barbados Meteorological Services recorded hundreds of lightning strikes that intensified as the afternoon wore on and Director of Meteorological Services Sabu Best warned residents to stay indoors due to the thunderstorm hazards.
The island was placed under flash flood and thunderstorm warnings from around 9:40 a.m. By noon, it had received up to two inches of rainfall, primarily in the southwest, west, and northern areas.
Reports of damage to houses, downed trees, and power lines emerged from various parts of the island.
“We have significant thunderstorm activity approaching from the southwest and west of the island, Best reported around noon. “Our lightning detector has detected just off the west coast, 130 to 140 lightning strikes every 15 minutes [and] over the island, around 11 to 12 lightning strikes, and that is on the increase.”
Anita Yarde from the St George North District Emergency Organisation reported that at least four houses were damaged in a St George community, with one roof completely blown off. Barbados Fire Service firefighters rescued the occupants, and no injuries were reported.
The Barbados Light & Power Company (BLPC) reported multiple power outages due to the severe weather. It gave an assurance to customers that its crews were actively working to restore power as soon as weather conditions allowed. By 3 p.m., those crews were still working in sections of Christ Church and St Philip.
Earlier in the day, communities in the parishes of St Michael, St Lucy, and St Peter were also affected. BLPC acknowledged the frustration caused by weather-related outages and promised to minimise disruptions.
By 5 p.m., it had safely restored power to the majority of affected customers. The company mentioned the possibility of isolated individual outages, which their crews would address as reported.
The BMS discontinued the flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings for the island in its 5 p.m update.
It reported between two and three inches of rainfall, an average of four lightning strikes per minute, and wind gusts near 100 kilometres per hour at Charnocks.
The Met Office said the threat of adverse conditions had significantly decreased but advised the public to monitor official information sources, as watches or warnings could be issued at short notice.
