Heavy rain expected to persist across Guyana until Tuesday

The Hydrometeorological Service says that periods of rainfall, with the potential to cause flooding, are expected to persist across Guyana from Sunday through Tuesday based on atmospheric conditions and model guidance. In a Special Information Bulletin issued over the weekend, the Service emphasises that ongoing rainfall will significantly elevate the risk of flooding, particularly in low-lying and poorly drained areas. According to the Hydromet office, while the current forecast indicates that wet conditions are expected to persist until at least Tuesday, on Sunday, however, there was a gradual shift in rainfall activity, which decreased across the country. But wet conditions are expected on Monday and Tuesday, with the highest accumulations expected over inland and southern regions. Weather projections indicate mostly cloudy skies with intermittent showers on Sunday, with rainfall between 10 and 30 millimetres (mm). On Monday, inland and southern regions are expected to see heavier rainfall, ranging from 30 to 60 millimeters, while other areas may receive between 10 and 25 millimetres. Showers are forecast from early morning through the afternoon. Conditions are expected to ease slightly by Tuesday and Wednesday, with cloudy skies and scattered showers producing between 10 and 20 millimetres (mm) of rainfall. The Hydrometeorological Service further forecasted that hilly regions could face an increased risk of mudslides, while thunderstorms may bring strong winds and lightning, adding to already hazardous conditions.
In light of these forecasts of rainfall with the potential for significant flooding until Tuesday, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is urging members of the public to take the necessary precautions during periods of rainfall and flooding. These include: avoiding flood-prone areas whenever possible; exercising extreme caution when driving or walking during rainfall, especially in areas affected by pooling water; keeping drains, trenches and waterways clear to reduce the risk of flooding; and securing important documents, household items and other valuables in the event of floods. On Sunday, the Hydrometeorological Service reported that weak to moderate rainfall intensities continued throughout the day over Regions Five and Six as well as along inland areas along Regions One to Four. It noted that coastal regions, from One to Four, had recorded partly cloudy and sunny skies. Meanwhile, based on information from several rainfall stations across the country, the Hydromet office reported a total of 24 hours of accumulated rainfall between 08:00 hours on Saturday, March 28, 2026, and 08:00 hours on Sunday, March 29, 2026. The highest rainfall recorded by the Hydrometeorological Service’s network of rainfall gauges was at Fort Island, in Region Three, which recorded 52.8 mm.
These reports come after a previous 24-hour persistent rainfall from Friday into Saturday that saw widespread flooding across many low-lying areas along Guyana’s coast including in Georgetown. During that period, the highest rainfall recorded was at Strathavon, Cane Grove in Region Four, at 145.0 mm. This saw several cultivation areas being flooded, prompting the intervention of the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture. Minister Zulfikar Mustapha had visited the area and engaged affected residents. He made immediate intervention to have the water drained faster. As such, tractor driven pumps were installed at several locations in the Mahaica River area on Saturday as a short-term measure.
The following day however, in keeping with the commitments made by the Agriculture Minister, several critical interventions were implemented to bring relief to affected communities. This includes an additional pump being installed at Strathavon, while a discharge tube was put in place at Belmont, Mahaica to enhance drainage capacity. Additionally, the issue affecting power supply at the Cane Grove Pump Station had also been resolved in collaboration with the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc., resulting in two electric pumps at the station now being fully operational. Further, a mobile pump has been deployed and was set up at the Joyce Phillip Pump Station, thus strengthening efforts to alleviate flooding in the area. Meanwhile, Minister Mustapha also conducted site visits to the Liliendaal, Riverview and other pump stations around Georgetown as part of ongoing assessments of the country’s drainage and irrigation systems. “We are working to ensure that those [low-lying Georgetown) areas, we are putting things in place there. And I think with our plans that we have in the future, there will be a massive drainage project being executed in this area,” he noted.
During the inspections, Mustapha highlighted that despite significant Government investments aimed at improving drainage infrastructure, the indiscriminate dumping of garbage into trenches and canals continues to severely hinder the effective operation of pump stations. This, he noted, remains a major contributor to flooding in several communities. The Minister also criticised the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC), stating that the body continues to “play politics” with residents and has not been effectively collecting garbage in and around the city. “This shows the ineptitude of the city council. They just want to control things and they can’t execute the work in the city,” he stated, reminding of the City Council’s failure to manage critical kokers in Georgetown on Saturday that compounded the flood situation in the city. Nevertheless, Mustapha went onto emphasised that proper maintenance and responsible waste disposal are critical to ensuring the efficiency of the drainage system, especially during periods of heavy rainfall. To this end, he once again issued a strong appeal to citizens to desist from dumping garbage into waterways, warning that such practices undermine national efforts to combat flooding and protect communities.