Jamaica not experiencing heat wave despite warm weather - Met Service

Nakinskie Robinson    

 

Jamaicans have been reeling from scorching temperatures being felt across the island in recent days.

 

But Evan Thompson, Director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, says other elements are at play which have been intensifying what is believed to be extreme conditions.

 

Despite what many perceive as brutal and unbearable heat, Mr. Thompson says the country has already been rocked by higher temperatures this year.

 

He says Jamaica is not experiencing a heat wave.

 

Mr. Thompson says the recent heavy rains and resultant humidity have caused many to believe that the temperatures being experienced are exceptionally high. 

 

"What we experienced over the past few days in May, it hasn't really surpassed some of the temperatures we have seen earlier on in the year because even in January we had temperatures that were higher than we have experienced so far in May. Last month as well we had temperatures that were a little bit higher than we have experienced so far in May and so we're not seeing higher temperatures now than we have seen so far in 2024, but because we've been getting a little bit of rain, the increased humidity is one of the factors that could make us feel warmer than it is actually being measured on a thermometer," he explained. 

 

Mr. Thompson said the current temperatures are above normal globally - roughly a degree Celsius higher for the average maximum temperature of each month.

 

The average temperature for May normally runs about 32 degrees Celsius but has now moved above 33.

 

Added to that, he said little relief will be felt at nighttime. 

 

"Our nights are also warmer than normal. That is what has already been seen even in the state of the Jamaican climate that was done over the last few years. That is one of the things that have been reported. But we still have a disparity between nighttime and daytime temperatures that may be up to about 5-4 degrees or so. Maybe in the nighttime temperatures may be down to about 28 degrees or 27 degrees, but as we go to the daytime it may go up to about 32-33. But in each case the temperatures are trending a little bit above what is normal," he noted. 

 

Record-breaking heat has hit several countries globally, causing unprecedented setbacks.

 

The World Meteorological Organisation said in a report that Latin America and the Caribbean had their warmest year on record in 2023, as a double-whammy of El Nino and climate change caused major weather calamities.