STEPHON NICHOLAS
GML Tobago Correspondent
Trinidad and Tobago could face even hotter conditions in the coming months, with Tobago also being warned to prepare for possible drought-like conditions.
Meteorologist Carrie Chapman-Dumas, a senior official at the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service, issued the warning on Wednesday during a workshop in Scarborough focused on building community resilience for emergencies and natural disasters.
Chapman-Dumas said while the country has experienced extreme temperatures recently, conditions have not yet met the official definition of a hot spell.
She said a hot spell is defined as temperatures of 33 degrees Celsius or higher for three to five days, or a prolonged period of below-normal rainfall.
“Based on the Met Service data, we have not met those criteria just yet. However, the heat season is coming,” she said.
Chapman-Dumas said drier conditions are forecast, with Tobago expected to be particularly vulnerable.
She said May, the beginning of the wet season, produced only eight millimetres of rainfall, while August rainfall was at 66 per cent of its projected level with only a few days left in the month.
“Yes, the rainy season was declared in May, but it was the worst month thus far,” she said.
Chapman-Dumas said a tropical wave currently passing through the region had not produced significant rainfall because of the heavy presence of Saharan dust.
“It is battling the tropical wave. Yes, the waves are coming off Africa as they normally would every five to seven days, but they are battling a dry air. You may get an hour or two of rainfall, but where is the rain falling?”
She said the Saharan dust has been affecting the tropical waves responsible for rainfall during the wet season.
“The Sahara dust has been a serious problem contending with those tropical waves that gives us our rainfall during the rainy season … Sometime between the end of August into September-October, we are looking at drought-like conditions for Tobago.”
Chapman-Dumas warned that the drier conditions could cause temperatures to continue rising.
“We are already feeling it, so imagine as we go deeper into our heat season.
“What is that gonna say for the health of our elderly, those who are compromised? Drought, dry spells, dehydration is gonna be a big problem as we enter our heat season.”
Deputy Chief Secretary Dr Faith Brebnor said she was surprised to hear temperatures could rise further.
“When she said that, I actually asked aloud, ‘How is that possible?’
“To think that it is going to get hotter, it’s hard to fathom that,” she said.
Brebnor, who is also Secretary of Health and Wellness, said her division will assist vulnerable groups and urged residents to store water where possible.
“The division will actually implement shortly an expansion of our water tank supplement where we are going to help individuals who may not have water tanks to help them get at least one water tank for their family.”
She urged residents to stay cool, cover their heads when in the sun, take breaks and drink plenty of water.
Brebnor said she was not yet concerned about increased demand for water during Tobago Carnival in October, when visitors are expected to arrive in greater numbers.
“I am not concerned just yet. We are working with WASA to improve the process of water supply on the island. That has been a longstanding issue and there are some short-term and long-term plans.”
She praised the Water and Sewerage Authority for providing truck-borne water and encouraged residents to contact WASA to request the service when needed.
