Office warns of wet weather, floods, thunderstorm

PEOPLE from Highlands, Mamose and Southern have been urged to take precautions for possible floods and thunderstorms as the country continues to experience wet weather into next year.
National Weather Service acting director Jimmy Gomoga said as a result of weak La Nina (wet period) conditions in progress and stronger southeast trade winds, there would be regional weather impacts throughout the country until April next year.
“Some parts of the country will experience normal rainfall while others will have less,” Gomoga said.
He said Western Highlands, Southern Highlands, Gulf and East and West Sepik would experience more rain while the New Guinea Islands, Highlands and Southern could expect drought.
“There will be flooding and thunderstorms in areas that are having normal rainfall during this month,” he said.
“We are going to expect severe thunderstorms throughout the country as well.”
He said the country was experiencing a weak La Nina period but the southwest trade winds were quite strong and as a result it could cause floods and thunderstorms in some parts of the country.
Gomoga said the Highlands was likely to see hailstorms as well this month.
He said the northwest trade winds would fall at the end of this week to signify the start of the wet season.
“The rainy period will continue until April next year until southeast trade winds fall in for the dry period.”