The Tribune

By SANCHESKA

DORSETT

Tribune Staff Reporter

sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Department of Meteorology’s Forecast Office was temporarily relocated yesterday after a meteorological observer slipped and fell in water that leaked into the building from a weather system on Sunday, according to the department’s director.

Trevor Basden said the employee fell and was taken to the hospital for observation after complaining about his knee.

The incident came a day after Senior Meteorological Officer Greg Thompson told The Tribune that despite the significant damage sustained at the Forecast Office during Hurricane Matthew, forecasters were still forced to work in the building despite a portion of the roof having collapsed, severe flooding and several windows being broken.

Mr Basden said yesterday the building has now been evacuated and forecasters are working from a temporary office in the Lynden Pindling International Airport.

“During Matthew, a glass broke and so obviously the strong winds and heavy rain did some damage to the office but it was since cleaned up and so the forecasters went back into the office.

“However, the weather system on Sunday was more prolonged with heavy rain and that soaked through the roof and revealed further problems that we had. They are now at the NAD emergency operations centre and the meteorological observers are at the upper air station in a building where the radar is located.

“An officer slipped while in the old area and I am being made to understand that he hurt his knee but we are still waiting on confirmation from the medical report. When the EMS personnel checked him out, they found no broken bones but out of precaution he was taken by ambulance to the hospital.”

Mr Basden said the Department of Meteorology’s Doppler radar, which “came off its gears” during the passage of Hurricane Matthew is in the process of being repaired. On Sunday, during the passage of a severe weather system, meteorology officials admitted that the radar was not working, meaning there was no way to tell how bad the flooding was or which areas received the worst of the rainfall. Parts of New Providence were badly flooded after torrential downpours.

“We have experts right now from the Met Office and the Department of Civil Aviation determining more accurately what the problem is,” Mr Basden said. “It is not fixed yet but they are very close to have it up and running. They are at the point now where we are able to see where the echoes are but it is not working fully. As we speak the experts are addressing it.”

Last week, Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin said that a phased acquisition of new “state-of-the-art” radars will not start until next year.

Mrs Hanna Martin explained that her ministry was in talks with the Ministry of Finance over the major expenditure, adding that the matter has been prioritised given the critical nature of weather services.

The cost of the new radars is just under $20m, she said.

The Doppler radar provides details on rainfall intensity, thunderstorms, and tornadic activity including waterspouts effectively within a 150-mile range.