The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) is forecasting yet another Wet Season with above-average temperatures in their latest outlook issued on May 21st, 2024.
For the 2024 Wet Season, the TTMS is forecasting mostly above-average temperatures across both islands. There is a 40% to 65% chance for above-normal maximum and minimum temperatures favoring western areas of Trinidad and southwest Tobago. They add that cities and urban areas have the highest chances for warmer-than-average temperatures.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the local heat season has its peak from August through October, and the TTMS is forecasting maximum temperatures to reach or exceed 34.0°C during this time.
There are also elevated chances for short-duration hot spells where maximum temperatures reach or exceed 34.0°C, particularly from late August and early October.
Color-coded categories (below-normal, above-normal, and near-normal) of maximum and maximum temperatures that are most likely to occur across Trinidad and Tobago for the 2024 Wet Season. The color-coded bar graph with the numbers to the right gives the likelihood for each forecast category to occur. (Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service)
According to the TTMS, cities and urban areas are most likely to experience warmer-than-average temperatures and the most intense heat, with temperatures likely to reach or exceed 35.0°C.
What does this mean for you?
Higher than usual and extreme temperatures can lead to relatively excessive heat for Trinidad and Tobago during the peak of the local heat season, which can amplify existing health conditions in vulnerable persons and worsen chronic health conditions in others.
Increased heat may increase the need to access cooling, which requires energy and strains the electrical grid and pockets due to increased electricity usage.
Issues may also arise for farmers as hot days, and spells can cause heat stress in livestock and wilting in newly transplanted and younger crops. Aquatic farms may also suffer as warmer-than-usual temperatures can lead to warmer-than-usual water temperatures, which are particularly important for the health of aquaponic fishes and plants. Water temperatures much warmer than 30.0°C can affect warm-water fishes such as tilapia.
