Venezuela weather alert: Tropical Wave 45 causes heavy rain and flooding

Tropical Wave 45 is causing widespread heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and wind gusts across Venezuela. The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (Inameh) has issued alerts for much of the country, noting that the weather system is interacting with the Intertropical Convergence Zone and a monsoon trough.

In the state of Lara, specifically in Barquisimeto and Palavecino, emergency teams have responded to 36 fallen trees, power outages, and damage to homes. Significant road closures and flooding have been reported in several sectors. Similarly, in Guanare, Portuguesa, residents have reported street flooding due to saturated drainage systems.

In Zulia, emergency services in the Santa Rita and Simón Bolívar municipalities have been monitoring vulnerable areas. While some areas experienced temporary street flooding, authorities reported that water levels eventually receded. Inameh continues to forecast intensifying precipitation, particularly in the afternoon and evening, across the central, western, and eastern regions of the country.