Schools across Sint Maarten are closed today as inclement weather affects the Caribbean Island.
Government’s response to the weather conditions
The country’s Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports (MECYS), Rodolphe Samuel, announced the closures after consulting with the Meteorological Office of Sint Maarten.
He mentioned the current weather developments and the saturation experienced, particularly with the flooding of roads on Sunday, August 20, 2023.
Samuel noted that the forecast predicted that the weather conditions would continue through Sunday evening and possibly Monday morning, which led to the closure of all schools on Monday, August 21, 2023.
He further said that the situation is under constant monitoring, and if an extension of closures is deemed necessary, the public will be informed.
Flood advisory in effect
A flood advisory remains in effect over the weekend and will continue until further notice, reflecting the serious concerns about potential flooding.
Monitoring Tropical Storms in the region
In addition to the immediate weather threats, the Meteorological Department is closely watching Tropical Storm Gert, which has formed east of Sint Maarten.
It said that the lingering moisture connected with the outer bands of Tropical Storm Franklin, as well as the proximity of the recently formed Tropical Storm Gert, is anticipated to persist in causing cloudy periods, isolated to scattered showers, and isolated thunderstorms across the local region.
Read more on Tropical Storm Franklin
Storm Watch: Haiti, TCI, Dominican Republic on alert for Tropical Storm Franklin
It is also reported that some of these showers may be intense, with the potential to cause street flooding and rockslides.
