Caribbean on High Alert: August brings heat waves, humidity, and hurricane threats

Regarding the Caribbean region climate, typical summer climate in August 2024, includes high temperature, high humidity level, precipitation, and hurricanes or stormy weathers, in the near future.

August is counted as the prime of the Atlantic Hurricane season, which extends from the middle of June right through to November. This is a period characterized by intense weather events, such as tropical storms and/or hurricanes, due to several climatic factors.

Temperature and Rainfall Patterns

The region is now in the wet season of the year, that is, June – November for most Caribbean islands. Relative humidity is high, and temperatures are high too, with the probability of rain showers throughout the day.

For Trinidad and Tobago, maximum temperatures have been reaching 33 – 34 °C and is fairly warm with a bit of sun punctuated with isolated showers here and there. Likewise, for Grenada the average temperatures remain around 30-32 °C with an average of 14 days of rainfall throughout the month of August. In most of the regions the weather is to remain moderately warm with much humidity which is rather normal for this time of year.

Similarly, Dominica is receiving similar weather condition, relatively cloudy and occasional showers. A weak pattern of ridge does exist and is partly responsible to moisture advective, resulting weather to be relatively drier.

However, there are still chances of rain, especially affecting the Lesser Antilles because of an incoming tropical wave. The wet season in St Kitts and Nevis and in Antigua and Barbuda means more showers and a warmer and humid climate, which is typical for the Caribbean area.

Hurricane Activity

The CARICOM region has a specific worry after they entered the hurricane season up to this year. Tropical wave that could possibly form into a tropical depression, reported by the island states as advisory on Lesser Antilles. Currently the National Hurricane Center is tracking the developments and people in the area are encouraged to stay aware and ready.

According to the climatology, the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season is expected to begin earlier with above normal activity. Increased sea surface temperatures over the usual average, have impacted Caribbean Sea and the Tropical North Atlantic Ocean thereby fostering generation of hurricanes. Such circumstances are believed to raise probability of disasters like hurricanes, floods, and landslides happening.

Sea Conditions and Hazards

The sea conditions throughout the region while slight difference in degree is generally described to be slight to moderate. Seas are reported to have waves that rise to nearly 7 feet in Dominica and those with respiratory issues due to dust haze are warned as the forecasted weather in the coming days might bring along such conditions.

Likewise, Trinidad and Tobago are having slight to moderate swells with waves of 1 to 2 meters.

With all these factors considered, specific risks such as occurrence of rain hails that leads to flash floods or even landslides prevail. Specified risks have been registered with regard to the importance to start preparing early and exercise a lot of care since this period is characterized by high rates of rainfall and storms.