Several areas in Grand Cayman were under flood waters on Saturday afternoon as torrential downpours enveloped the island.
A National Weather Service flood warning remains in place as the heavy rainfall is expected to continue into Monday.
Hazard Management Cayman Islands, in an alert on Saturday afternoon, advised that “significant flooding” is occurring in low lying areas and on roadways.
“Residents should closely monitor local forecasts and exercise extreme caution while driving on roads. Hazard Management Cayman Islands is monitoring flood-prone areas, and a shelter is on standby,” it said.
Meteorologist Gilbert Miller, in an updated bulletin on Saturday afternoon, said excessive moisture over the western Caribbean will continue to support heavy showers and some thunder over the next few days.
The bulletin has warned of continued flooding in low lying areas, adding that “inundated areas may worsen overnight”.
Reports reaching the Cayman Compass stated that Randyke Gardens was severely impacted by flood waters.
Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart said he informed the National Roads Authority about the situation and workers were dispatched to clear the culverts to allow the flow of water.
Washington Blvd and Marina Drive were also hit with flooding, while some four to six inches of flood water was reported at Vienna Circle in South Sound.
There were also reports of flooding in West Bay and Northward.
Bodden Town West MP Chris Saunders toured the flooded areas and said, in a broadcast message Saturday night, that water had started to recede.
He expressed gratitude to Planning Minister Jay Ebanks and the NRA for the work done in the area to clear drains as “some streets that would have experienced flooding after the level of rain [on Saturday] were better [off] than I expected”.
At the Cayman Islands Humane Society in George Town, volunteers were busy emptying flood waters invading the shelter Saturday afternoon.
Cayman’s FIFA World Cup Qualifier match versus Antigua and Barbuda at the Truman Bodden stadium was also impacted by the torrential downpour on Saturday.
The match, originally scheduled for 3:30pm, was postponed to 9pm due to the rainy conditions.
Miller, in his evening forecast, said that “continued flooding is expected over the next two days as excessive moisture over the western Caribbean is advected into the Cayman area”.
The forecast calls for locally heavy showers with some thunder, which will lead to enhanced flooding of already inundated areas.
“Radar images show widely scattered thundershowers in and around the Cayman area moving to the north,” it said.
Between 3 to 4 inches of rainfall is expected Saturday night, and 1-1.5 inches on Sunday and Monday.
Overnight Saturday, cloudy skies with a 60% chance of showers and some thunder can be expected.
Temperatures will fall to the upper 70’s °F.
Winds will be south to southeast at 10 to 15 knots, and the seas will be slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet, the forecast stated.
Cloudy to overcast skies will continue on Sunday with a 60% chance of showers and some thunder.
“Showers may become locally heavy at times. Possible flooding in low lying areas is expected. Temperatures will rise to the upper 80’s °F. Winds will be southeast at 10 to 15 knots with higher gusts. Seas will be moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet,” the forecast stated.
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