The “vigorous tropical wave” that passed over the local area Saturday into Sunday was nothing major, although accompanying showers and thunderstorms did produce quite a bit of rain in bursts. No significant flooding or damage has been reported, but forecasters predicted sustained winds of 24 miles per hour with higher gusts and issued a small craft advisory for moderate to rough seas of between six and nine
feet.
To claim that this fast-moving weather system was any kind of real test for the island’s storm preparedness two months into the hurricane season would be a stretch. Moreover, except for the Met Office, disaster management authorities apparently saw no reason to mobilise, at least publicly.
The good news is that another, much slower-moving disturbance near the Cape Verde Islands no longer shows the potential for cyclone formation and is not even mentioned anymore in the tropical outlook of the US National Hurricane Centre in Miami. That probably means some respite at least for the coming week, but residents are advised to remain vigilant.
After all, this latest experience did show how quickly these systems can get to the local area. Forward speed is usually a blessing because it makes development less likely, but also could enhance the surprise-element.
