National Meteorological Service of Belize

San Pedro Town continues to battle the persistent influx of Sargassum, with the sanitation department, supported by additional staff, working daily to keep the beaches clear of the brown seaweed. Over the past week alone, the department reported removing 104 tons of Sargassum from the downtown shoreline. Despite the ongoing challenges, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) has recently downgraded its response level from Code Red to Yellow, while significant quantities of the seaweed continue to wash ashore.

As the easterly winds start to blow over San Pedro Town on Ambergris Caye, seasonal mats of Sargassum seaweed have begun to wash up on the island's shoreline. In response, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) has initiated a plan to address the current influx of this brown seaweed. On March 11th, they announced their initiative, which has already resulted in the removal of more than 20 truckloads of Sargassum following the recent influx.

As winter transitions to spring and summer, countries along the Atlantic and Caribbean are beginning to monitor the inflow of Sargassum seaweed. Although the presence of this brown algae in January is unusual, some has already been spotted on the beaches of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. Experts indicate that these early sightings suggest the potential for another significant Sargassum year, as a large pathway of the algae is being tracked in the Atlantic Ocean.

On Thursday, November 14th, Tropical Storm Sara formed just north of the coast of Honduras. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour and is moving west at a speed of 12 miles per hour. According to the National Meteorological Service of Belize, the tropical storm is expected to impact the area late Sunday or Monday morning, bringing heavy rainfall.

The National Meteorological Service of Belize (NMSB) and the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) are closely monitoring the Southwest Caribbean Sea, where models suggest a potential for tropical cyclone development later this week. While current chances of formation remain low, with near 0% probability over the next 48 hours and 30% within seven days, the situation could still evolve. In a worst-case scenario, a tropical depression or storm could form by Thursday or Friday, moving over Northern Nicaragua or Honduras, weakening before its remnants pass over Belize late Friday into Saturday, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall. The public is reminded that forecasts are subject to change, however, and NMSB and NEMO will continue to closely monitor the system and provide timely updates on any significant developments.

Several coastal areas of the country, including San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, have been affected by King Tides that accompanied this month's supermoon. The unusually high tide has flooded low-lying areas and streets without proper drainage systems. In San Pedro, residents are asked to exercise caution when traversing low-lying areas. At the same time, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) crew continues to monitor and assess key areas for repairs.

The Government of Belize (GOB), through the Ministry of Economic Development (MED), and the Resilient Rural Belize Programme (RRB), with funding from GOB, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), provided weather sensors and equipment to the National Meteorological Service (NMS) of Belize. These tools will assist the AgroMet section in providing real time weather information to rural farmers and households in Belize. The Resilient Rural Belize Programme via Subcomponent 2.3: “Investment in Territorial Climate Resilient Assets,” is financing the upgrade of the Climate Information system at the National Meteorological Service of Belize at a value of US $256,300.00.

As the powerful Hurricane Beryl moves west-northwest across the Caribbean Sea at 22 miles per hour, a tropical storm warning has been issued from...