After experiencing scorching high temperatures that made 2023 a record-breaker, it seems like there’s no cooling off in sight for the year ahead. Brace yourself for another round of intense heat, as 2024 is set to keep the temperature vibes high and the weather chart ablaze.
The Trinidad and Tobago Met Service warns of drier-than-usual conditions in the first half of the 2024 dry season, coupled with a hotter-than-average period. The annual National Climate Outlook Forum (NCOF) revealed predictions of suppressed rainfall, leading to drier conditions in the initial dry season, followed by wetter conditions in the latter half for both islands. Below-normal rainfall is expected for January-March, with above-normal totals forecasted for March-May 2024. The country is anticipated to experience 61-102% of average dry season rainfall. Despite drier conditions initially, the overall dry season is projected to be wetter than usual. The outlook indicates a 70% probability of 4-7 seven-day dry spells and 1-3 ten-day dry spells. Acting climatologist Kaidar Kissoon attributes the conditions to a moderately strong El Niño pattern.
Internationally, escalating worries surround the rise in average temperatures, nearing the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius. This pivotal concern is currently taking center stage at COP 29 in Dubai, where global leaders are converign to address the urgent climate crisis and chart a course toward sustainable solutions.
