CHIEF Hydrometeorological Officer (ag), Ms Bhaleka Suelall, warned yesterday that the highest maximum spring tide forecast for 2008 is expected tomorrow at 04:25 h at a height of 3.27 metres.

She said the tide is not likely to cause any major disaster unless it is coupled with severe weather conditions. Currently, there is no weather system in Guyana’s environs that is likely to trigger any major problems.

She, nevertheless, is urging fishermen and persons living along the coast and riverine areas to remain alert at all times during this period, and to keep abreast with the advisories and forecasts being provided by the ‘Met’ Service.

The current spring tide period began on April 3 and will conclude on April 10. Spring tides are tides that are greater than 2.74 metres.

Engineers from the Sea Defence Unit of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications are continuing with their monitoring activities in all sea defence districts and are responding to conditions in various vulnerable areas.

In addition, every effort has been made to strengthen the sea defence along the lower East Coast that experienced overtopping during the last spring tide period which took place late last month.

Villages such as North Better Hope, Vryheid’s Lust and Montrose were flooded as a result of the spring tides which were aggravated by a low pressure system in the Atlantic and La Nina conditions that generated gusty winds.

The internal drainage and irrigation system and main drains along the public road have since been significantly improved by the clearance and removal of garbage and illegal structures.

Several Caribbean countries were also affected by the situation as several beaches were forcibly closed and at least one death was reported in Barbados.