Tropical Storm Arthur

Tropical Storm Arthur

Hurricane and tropical storm season isn't supposed to start in Belize until June 1, but in 2008 the season started a day early, to devastating effect. Tropical Storm Arthur, which formed just off the coast of Belize on May 31, 2008, and quickly moved ashore, in a few hours dumped up to 15 inches of rain on the country, from the far north to far south. At least seven Belizeans in southern Belize were reported drowned. Early estimates of the financial cost range up to US$50 million and higher.

Government officials said the flooding from the storm was the worst in Belize in at least three decades, with some areas under water that had never been flooded before. Several villages, including Gales Point in Belize District and Sittee in Stann Creek District, were inundated with flood waters. A number of villages in Orange Walk and Corozal districts along the Northern Highway also received flooding. Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker had some moderate flooding, and several dozen small boats sank. A large part of Belize's rice crop was destroyed.

Happily, Belize's tourism industry escaped mostly unscathed. Nearly all hotels, lodges and resorts stayed open or quickly reopened after the storm. Roads and other infrastructure in popular tourist areas were generally undamaged. One impact for visitors may be the loss of the Kendall Bridge over the Sittee River, at Mile 13.7 of the Southern Highway. This major bridge, located between Maya Centre and Hopkins, was washed away, for a few weeks severing the only road access to points south, including Placencia and Punta Gorda. At this writing, a temporary causeway is in place over the Sittee River, allowing vehicular traffic including buses to cross. A permanent new bridge is expected to be completed in mid-2009. Check locally before driving south of the Hopkins area. Air service to all airstrips in the south continues normally.

-Lan Sluder