The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service has placed the country under a Hot Spell Watch through the weekend as temperatures have soared above 33°C in Tobago and 34°C this week, and these hot temperatures are forecast to continue through Monday.
What you need to know
— What has happened: Over the past week, Trinidad and Tobago has experienced elevated levels of heat, occasionally surpassing the definition for a hot day at both Piarco (maximum temperatures at or above 34°C) and Crown Point (maximum temperatures at or above 33°C). On September 19th, with consecutive hot or near-hot days forecast, the TTMS placed the country under a Hot Spell Watch.
— What is expected: Maximum high temperatures near or above 34°C in Trinidad and near 33°C in Tobago are forecast through the next five days, though afternoon showers and thunderstorms may bring needed heat-relief. Across western and urbanized areas of the country, maximum high temperatures could reach as high as 38°C and even higher in cities. The TTMS is forecasting heat index values between 34°C and 44°C, but based on what T&T has experienced already, heat indies between 37°C and 53°C are likely.
— Hazards: There is a real threat of heat exhaustion and heat stroke amongst the population, with heat stress likely for crops and animals.
Latest Alerts
Trinidad and Tobago Placed Under Hot Spell Watch
Trinidad and Tobago is NOT under any tropical storm or hurricane threat, watch, or warning at this time.
The Hot Spell Watch
Officially, according to the TTMS, a hot spell is declared when Trinidad and Tobago experiences maximum high temperatures reach or exceed 34°C at Piarco AND maximum high temperatures reach or exceed 33°C at Crown Point, Tobago. Historically, the maximum high-temperature threshold for Tobago was at or above 32°C, but this was changed in August 2023, as the definition of a hot day is meant to capture maximum high temperatures in the top 95th percentile of temperatures and, according to the TTMS climatologist office, 32°C was too low. Hot spells are the same as heat waves.
The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service issued the Hot Spell Watch (Yellow Level) on Thursday at 1:05 PM, which went into effect immediately. The Watch remains in effect from 1:00 PM Thursday, September 19th, 2024, through 4:00 PM Monday, September 23rd, 2024, for both Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad and Tobago is not under any tropical storm watch or warning at this time.
The TTMS is advising of hot conditions, predominantly over Trinidad and Tobago. According to the TTMS:
- Over the next five days, there is a high probability (75%) that daily maximum temperatures will reach or exceed 34.0°C in Trinidad, and 33.0°C or greater in Tobago.
- The hottest time of the day is between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
- Maximum temperatures higher than 34.0°C are likely in cities, urban and built-up areas, and “feel-like” temperatures will likely range between 34.0°C and 44.0°C.
- While we have been experiencing hot days (defined as maximum temperatures of 34.0 °C or greater in Trinidad, and 33.0 °C or greater in Tobago) it is expected that the criteria for a Hot Spell, defined as five consecutive hot days, is likely to be reached or exceeded in the coming days.
- These hot days combined with tropical moisture and light winds are ingredients for rapid development of strong thunderstorms and/or heavy showers, mainly during afternoons.
- Although rainfall events may provide brief relief from hot conditions, however, warm nights are also likely.
The color of the watch indicates the severity of the event and the probability of the event occurring. Currently, the alert level is Yellow. The hazards are likely, and the severity of the impacts is moderate for this particular watch. You should be aware of the hazards associated with hot temperatures, including but not limited to heat stress, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke among people, plants, and animals.
For a moderate Hot Spell Watch, there is the potential for possible injuries, where behavioral changes are required to ensure safety. Generally, there may be minor damage to property, with income-earning temporarily disrupted and a couple of communities affected more than others.
The Met Office is advising the public to wear appropriate clothing, stay hydrated at all times, and keep out of direct sunlight to avoid sunburn, open appropriate windows, vents and doors in your homes to ventilate at times.
What’s causing the excessive heat?
Since mid-August, multiple low-pressure systems and occasional weak tropical cyclones have safely moved north of Trinidad and Tobago. The result of these low-pressure systems traversing north of the region is weaker surface winds, coming from the southeast and south, to near calm and calm at times.
Though the mid to upper-level environment remains fairly dry, the low-level environment has marginal amounts of moisture, which leads to elevated humidity. As a result, high amounts of warm air remain near the surface, while at night, occasional mid/upper-level clouds prevent the escape of heat into the atmosphere.
The result is warm, humid nights and hot, humid days across not only Trinidad and Tobago but the remainder of the Lesser Antilles.
On a larger scale, the solar altitude, or the angle of the sun relative to the Earth’s horizon, was at 90° across T&T (occurred on August 25th). When this occurs, solar radiation is concentrated over a smaller surface area, causing warmer temperatures.
Trinidad and Tobago is also entrenched in its heat season, which runs from March to October, with the first peak in April and May and the second peak in late August through early October. During these months, the islands experience mostly hot sunny periods and warm nights. Winds are generally weak but occasionally moderate strength from the east to southeast with speeds of 20-30 KM/H.
