The Meteorological Service has advised through its 9:30 am Information Bulletin that during the last twelve (12) hours, Trinidad and Tobago would have experienced some heavy and thundery showers. This is expected to continue intermittently throughout the country for the next three (3) to four (4) hours before any obvious signs of improvement.

As a consequence of these showers, street / flash flooding with accompanying gusty winds can be expected in areas of the heavy showers / thundershowers. In this vein, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) is advising citizens to review their preparedness measures such as storing and protecting valuables and relocating to areas that are not normally affected by flash flooding.

The ODPM has already alerted the first responder agencies and other critical agencies have also been notified should there be a need to render immediate assistance.

The ODPM continues to reiterate that Trinidad and Tobago is now actively in the period of heightened hydro-meteorological activity and therefore, persons are to remain vigilant and take the necessary measures to safeguard their families and valuables.

The situation is being monitored and the public will be advised accordingly.

A short earthquake just rocked Trinidad. The magnitude was 5.0 on the Richter scale and only just appeared as one of the earthquakes around the world (above) that needs to be at least 4.0 to figure.

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — One of the fiercest storms in years battered northern Europe Thursday, killing at least 10 people, injuring others and disrupting travel for thousands.

The storm — dubbed "Cyril" by German meteorologists — was expected to intensify throughout the day. Hurricane-force gusts of up to 118 mph blasted Germany, forcing dozens of flight cancelations, prompting the national railroad to suspend services across a swath of the country and shutting schools.

"Our country has not had a storm like this in years," the Netherlands' Royal Weather Service said in a bulletin. "We advise you to follow weather alarms and messages to the letter."