Thursday, April 25, 2024

Weather

National Mereorological Service of Belize Hosts 10th National Climate Outlook Forum

The National Climate Outlook Forums (NCOFs) serve as a key national platform for promoting regular dialogue and inter-agency coordination in responding to natural hazards, climate variability, extremes and change. The event was held as a part of implementing the key principles of the Global Framework for Climate Services at the national level through the NMS’s initial stage of the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS). It will aid participants in preparing for the remainder of the 2022 wet season and integrate climate information into operational and strategic decision-making in the agriculture sector and other climate-sensitive sectors.

Safety Measures Advisory for Farmers in Flood Prone Areas

The low-pressure system in our area presents potential threats to the agriculture sector, particularly to some southern regions of Belize where a flood alert has been issued by the National Meteorological Service. To mitigate the possible effects of flooding, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise hereby advises all farmers in low-lying and flood-prone areas to safeguard their families and livelihoods as needed.

Rain forecast for the weekend as weather disturbance approaches Belize

Heavy rainfall is expected this weekend starting late on Thursday, June 16th, as a weather system located near the northeastern border of Nicaragua and Honduras will be making its way over the Belizean territory.

2022 Hurricane Season officially starts; weather disturbances are being monitored

The 2022 Hurricane Season for the Atlantic Basin (North Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico) officially started on Wednesday, June 1st, and will run through November 30th. The season has begun with the National Hurricane Center (NHC) monitoring two areas for potential tropical cyclone development.

2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season starts early; another active season predicted

Although the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season (June to November) is less than a month away, the first tropical wave has been detected off the west coast of Africa. Weather experts say it’s not surprising to see systems forming outside of the season, and they usually do not pose a significant threat. This year’s hurricane period is predicted to be an above-average season with 19 named storms, with nine expected to become hurricanes and four of them becoming major hurricanes. An average hurricane season usually comprises of 14 named storms.

2021 Hurricane Season ends quietly; Belize spared once again

November 30th marks the closing of the 2021 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season. Although it was forecasted to be active, Belize was not significantly affected by any of the systems that formed during the season. The nearest landfall to the country was Hurricane Grace near Tulum, Mexico, in August as a category one hurricane.

CCRIF Strengthens Belize’s Early Warning Systems Capacity for Rainfall and Climate Forecasting with Grants

CCRIF has recently provided another grant to the Government of Belize of US$43,140 to further enhance its early warning systems for extreme rainfall events.  Since 2017, CCRIF has been supporting Belize to purchase and install automatic weather stations with grants totalling US$143,000. The first grant of US$100,000 in 2017, facilitated the purchase of 30 new automatic weather stations that were installed throughout the country. With the 30 weather stations provided by CCRIF, Belize now has 52 working weather stations with high quality rain gauges, making the country one of the Caribbean’s best equipped in terms of its national rainfall monitoring network coverage.

New Survey to Capture Data on Climate Change and its Impacts

The National Climate Change Office under the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management in collaboration with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), and the National Red Cross, has embarked on a nationwide survey to capture citizens’ knowledge and attitudes towards climate change, and its impact on their country.