For the latest information on storm activity in the Cayman Islands, as well as information on how to prepare for hurricane season, visit Storm Centre.
Schools, airports, courts and government offices will reopen Wednesday following the passage of Tropical Storm Helene, officials have confirmed.
The tropical storm warning Grand Cayman had been under since Monday night was lifted around noon on Tuesday, but the island continues to experience windy conditions and rough seas, and flooding remains in several areas.
The weather system was not officially a tropical storm until after it passed Cayman, when it was upgraded and named Tropical Storm Helene as it pushed northwest towards Cuba and the southern United States. It is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane on Thursday.
Even after the tropical storm warning was lifted, Hazard Management Cayman Islands continued to advise people to stay indoors and off the streets to allow government agencies to work safely.
Anyone who opted to venture out was advised to avoid driving through floods and to be aware of debris and fallen power lines.
Normal operations to resume Wednesday
The Cayman Islands Airports Authority, in a statement issued late Tuesday afternoon, said the Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman and the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport on Cayman Brac will resume operations from 7am Wednesday.
It advised passengers to contact their airlines directly for any flight-related enquiries and updates.
All government schools and the University College of the Cayman Islands will reopen Wednesday, 25 Sept.
Education officials announced the reopening, but warned that certain areas may be experiencing flooding, which could impact transportation and student drop-off.
“As a precaution, bus drivers will assess the situation and, where it is deemed unsafe to drop off students (especially younger children) with no one present to receive them, the children will be returned to their respective schools,” the statement from the Ministry of Education and Department of Education Services noted.
Parents and guardians are being asked to support the bus drop-off process by being present, if possible, to receive their child or ward off the buses.
The Judicial Administration says courts will reopen on Wednesday for business as usual, with court offices opening at 9am and courts resuming at 10am.
Cases affected by adjournments due to the bad weather will be rescheduled and new dates communicated to all relevant parties in due course, the department said.
A small craft warning remains in effect, as rough seas are being experienced mainly along the southern and western coasts. People are being warned to stay out of the water and away from the shorelines.
According to the 1:30pm update from the Cayman Islands National Weather Service, Helene at that time was 203 miles west of Grand Cayman and 307 miles west of Cayman Brac, moving west to northwest at 12 miles per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.
Meteorologists said the system intensified as it moved away from Cayman.
The National Weather Service said a decrease in winds was expected by Tuesday evening, with winds dropping to 23-29 mph for Grand Cayman and 17-23 mph for the Sister Islands.
However, it is forecast that there will be isolated thunderstorms and a potential for a further increase in flooding in some areas. Rough seas will also continue to be seen along the southern and western coasts of Grand Cayman.
CUC crews have been restoring power in areas where outages were reported. By the time the tropical storm warning was discontinued, 14 outages affecting 118 customers across Grand Cayman had been reported. By 5pm, that number had been reduced to four outages, affecting four customers.
Rainfall predictions
Earlier on Tuesday, chief meteorologist Kerry Powery said Grand Cayman could expect to experience another 6 inches of rainfall, which will gradually reduce to less than a quarter inch by Friday.
The Sister Islands is expected to get another 3.5 inches of rainfall from Tuesday, which will gradually decrease to minimal amounts by Friday, he added.
Total potential rainfall for Grand Cayman from Tuesday to Thursday is up to 10.4 inches, and up to 5.4 inches for the Sister Islands.
Rough seas with wave heights peaking at 8-10 feet are expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.
No one at shelters
Hazard Management Cayman Islands Director Danielle Coleman has asked the community to continue to remain indoors as the rains and winds continue.
Speaking on CIGTV at lunchtime on Tuesday, Coleman confirmed that, at that point, no residents had sought shelter at the Red Cross on Huldah Avenue.
She earlier told the Compass, “There is a significant amount of water on the roads this morning and some significant gusts as well, and we ask people to stay off the roads as much as possible once the system moves further away and, of course, the all clear is given. Our damage assessment teams, along with utilities, can assist in any necessary repair and assessment.”
Hurricane Hunters dispatched
The NHC said Hurricane Hunters were dispatched to investigate the storm system on Tuesday morning.
The aircraft passed Grand Cayman in the early morning hours of Tuesday on its reconnaissance mission.
The NHC said strengthening is expected during the next few days, and the system is forecast to become a hurricane on Wednesday and continue strengthening on Thursday as it moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
Related Videos
