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The threat of flooding
rainfall in Haiti will increase this weekend as
a weak tropical disturbance moves in from the
Eastern Atlantic.
AccuWeather.com
meteorologists have been tracking this system as
it came off Africa. While it still remains
unorganized in the Atlantic, it has the
potential to become a big rainmaker as it moves
through the islands.
In addition, Hurricane Expert
Joe Bastardi is predicting a second surge of
tropically induced rain in the next two weeks
with a tropical wave following the current
system and has said the current system may be
something for Florida and the Gulf to be on
watch for in the long term.
According to Bastardi, a
major rainfall season is beginning and
significant rain is predicted for Puerto Rico
and Hispaniola. Weak systems can bring heavy
rains and big problems.
Bastardi said these kinds of
disturbances could be an extreme problem for
Haiti, which is still trying to rebuild after it
was devastated by a magnitude-7.0 earthquake in
January.
As recently as June 4, CNN
reported little progress in clearing the debris
caused by the quake. According to the U.S. State
Department, the government of Haiti launched its
Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission on June
1.
Alex Sosnowski,
AccuWeather.com expert senior meteorologist,
noted that Haiti's rainy season will be
significantly more problematic for those left
homeless by the January disaster. Approximately
1.5 million are still homeless according to
Signon.com.
The quake has left behind
unstable hillsides and has increased the risk of
mudslides caused by heavy rain.
Giovanni Riccardi Candiani,
head of contingency planning for U.N. Office of
Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, told
the Palm Beach Post that flooding is a
significant concern in Haiti. Tropical storms in
2004 killed almost 3,000 people; many of these
victims died due to the floods.
Most of the shelters
available to refugees today consist of tarps and
tents that may not be able to withstand extreme
weather.
Haiti may also be a greater
risk to suffer from hurricane damage due to its
weakened condition. Bastardi is expecting a
top-10 hurricane season, which could include as
many as 18 named storms. Bastardi also said that
Haiti may be overdue for a significant hurricane
season. Haiti was hardest hit by hurricanes
Flora, Cleo and Inez in the 1960s.
Story by Kristen Rodman and
Kirstie Hettinga, AccuWeather.com Staff Writers
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