Weather
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.
Community and Society
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.
Weather
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.
Weather
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.
Weather
Heavy rains expected as Tropical Storm Grace approaches the Yucatan Peninsula
Tropical Storm Grace in the Caribbean Sea is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane tomorrow, Wednesday, August 18th, before reaching the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico’s eastern coast. The potential hurricane does not pose a direct threat to Belize but will bring rain to the country beginning Wednesday afternoon and increasing at night through Thursday midday.
Weather
Opening of 2021 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season
1st June marks the official start of the 2021 hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin. The season runs from 1st June to 30th November each year. However, the formation of tropical cyclones is possible at any time of the year, as shown by the formation of tropical storm Ana in late May. The formation of this system marks the seventh consecutive year a storm has developed before the official start of the season.
Weather
CEO Caucus Prepares for 2021 Hurricane Season
June 1 signals the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. To this end, Ambassador Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary, led a briefing and planning session with the caucus of the chief executive officers to prepare for the 2021 hurricane season.
Education
REDD+ spearheads training for journalists on climate change and its effects
The training/workshop on the 14th and 15th of May was organized by REDD+, which stands for Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, (+) conservation, sustainable management of forests carbon, and stock enhancement. Other partners involved in the event included the National Climate Change Office (NCCO) and the Forest Department. The training raised awareness of Belize's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the impacts of deforestation and forest degradation.
