Tropical Storm Tomas Threatens The Caribbean - Advice and Information

Summary: Heavy flooding is expected as Tropical Storm Tomas is forecast to hit the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the southeastern Bahamas on Friday, 5 November.

What is the storm's predicted path?

The storm is expected to pass close to Jamaica, Cuba, and the Turks and Caicos Islands on 5 and 6 November, hitting Haiti and passing through to the Bahamas on 7 and 8 November.

Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) Advice:

The FCO advises British nationals en route to destinations in the Caribbean to:

• Monitor local media and other sources for regular news updates
• Check with your tour operator whether your holiday destination will be affected
• Contact your airline before you leave for the airport
• Follow the advice and instructions of local authorities if you are already in an affected area
• Use our LOCATE service to register with your nearest British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate
• Contact either the Bahamas British High Commission or the Dominican Republic British Honorary Consulate for assistance
• Get the latest travel updates from British nationals abroad on Facebook and @britishabroad on Twitter

Which areas will be the hardest hit?

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami announced a hurricane warning for Haiti, particularly for the western reaches of the southern peninsula.

The storm was also forecast to bring up to 10 inches of rain to the Dominican Republic, with one to three inches possible over Jamaica, and three to six inches expected over the southeastern Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

These rains could lead to serious flash floods and mudslides over mountainous regions.

Caribbean Storm Season:

Tropical Storm Tomas first formed in the Caribbean on Saturday 30 October, hitting the eastern islands including St. Lucia before weakening.

On late Wednesday 3 November, the storm strengthened from a tropical depression, located 295 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, packing winds of 45 mph (75 kph).

The worst fear is a hurricane-strength storm that affects multiple regions simultaneously, which could exhaust the resources of governments and aid workers.

The Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center reports that Tomas is the 12th hurricane of a very active 2010 Atlantic hurricane season.