Caribbean countries have been urged to be ready and on the alert for landslides, flash flooding and stronger storms which will occur later this year following a drought which the region is presently experiencing.
That warning came from officials of the Caribbean Emergency Disaster Management (CEDMA) and the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) at a press conference in Barbados this week attended by 15 journalists from across the region.
According to the experts, drought conditions, which have affected the region since late 2014 to early 2015, are expected to subside by the start of the 2016 Hurricane Season but in their place, Caribbean islands should prepare for the risks of landslides and flash floods as the rains return.
The forecast comes after many months of warmer and drier than average conditions in the Caribbean fueled by El Niño, a warming of the eastern equatorial Pacific which has implications for weather patterns around the world, including drought in many regions. After the forecasted weakening of El Niño, its counterpart La Niña (a cooling of the Pacific) may take over and affect the region in the latter part of 2016.
Agrometeorologist and Chief of Applied Meteorology and Climatology at CIMH, Adrian Trotman, told journalists that if the change in circumstance takes place, it is likely to result in higher than normal rainfall and stronger storm systems.
He explained that while near to above average rainfall is expected to ease the drought across the Caribbean later this year; CIMH advises that areas experiencing long-term dryness will be more susceptible to hazards such as landslides and flashfloods, once rains return excessive amounts.
“Limited rainfall over the last few months has left many parts of the Caribbean with dry, compacted soils…as a result; heavy rainfall will not be easily absorbed by affected soil which increases the risk of flooding,” Trotman said.
The experts believe that recent advances in climate forecasting services for the Caribbean now means that government planners and other bodies can now make important decisions based on seasonal forecasts up to three to six months in advance.
“We know that advanced warning of an extreme event like a hurricane can help us to be more prepared. The same now applies for longer-term climatic events and this means that the sooner we can have an early warning of changing conditions the longer time we have to prepare and be more effective at mitigating those impacts,” he said.
Dominican journalist, Carlisle Jno Baptiste, was among a group of 15 Caribbean media workers who attended the press conference.
He also took part in a one day SIDS (Small Island Developing States)-sponsored climate change forecasting workshop in Barbados on February 17th.
The objective of the workshop was to help regional media understand the role of the Caribbean Institute for meteorology and hydrology (CIMH) and the economic value of climate change.
Noted BBC climate change broadcaster David Eades was one of the facilitators at the workshop.
Followed by hail then SNOW
Thank You Dear Blessed Mother for your kind, loving reminder. Please pray for us, Your Dear Children. Whether they honor You or not, they are all God’s Children. You love them equally and even know them by name.
In case some are not aware of that or they pretend not to know and reject Her, Our Lady: The Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Our Brother, is Our Spiritual Mother. God has ordained it. No one and their words could ever change, sever or annul it.
This Sunday night, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me.
We are in the world, alive and anything could occur to this planet and where we reside. We have already heard of many disasters which have occurred and more to come.
Preparation of country, property and hearts are absolutely necessary.
All Christians should know, the primary one is pray, pray, pray with a loving, caring heart and a fervent one.
The Mother of God, the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary said, “Many nations will be annihilated. It will not occur all at once” but bit by bit.
She also said, “People must stop offending God. He is already very offended.”
Also, “I tell you to turn off the television and follow the path that God has set for you!”
Today, it is the internet and computer.
While being concerned and providing advice on how we should protect ourselves, let us keep this in mind, the words of the Mother of God through God’s Holy Spirit.
When she appears to visionaries, she says: “My Son Jesus sent me. Praise be Jesus My Dear Children.”
This warning is very confusing and the timing of it awkward , to say the least. Only three days earlier (DNO 16 Feb.) Dominica is given a drought warning to be told three days later that we must brace for floods. What is going on? Can the agencies at least work together so that a coherent and credible message can be delivered to the public. If you are confused, believe me you are not the only one! Should I build a cistern or an arc…or perhaps both?
We on drought watch and then after the drought comes a flood watch.
confusing times ahead
Brace for flooding and drought lol
‘Caribbean countries have been urged to be ready and on the alert for landslides, flash flooding and stronger storms which will occur later this year following a drought which the region is presently experiencing’
read and understand