Several activities will be undertaken in the North and Central American and Caribbean region this year to monitor the effects of hurricane and tropical cyclone events and strengthen response. This was disclosed by Deputy Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Hurricane Centre, Jamie Rhome, during the recently concluded World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Regional Conference (Regional Association...

Jamaicans have eight days left to submit their applications in the local aspect of the ClimateLaunchpad competition, the world’s largest innovative green business idea contest. Deadline for submission is Friday, May 13. Interested persons with ideas around adaptation and resilience, circular economies, urban solutions, clean energy, sustainable mobility, and food systems can apply by visiting www.climatelaunchpad.org. The showdown will be...

Jamaica now has the capacity to conduct more informed climate risk analyses to better guide the public sector’s decision-making regarding future infrastructural investments. This follows the official launch of the Jamaica Systemic Risk Assessment Tool (J-SRAT) by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, during a ceremony at The Jamaica...

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Service) is working to commission its new doppler weather radar by the start of the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Director of the Meteorological Service, Evan Thompson, has shared with JIS News the Division’s preparatory work for the full functioning of the new system, which will enhance the country’s early warning process. “The doppler radar...

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica (Met Service) is developing a SmartAlert programme, which will provide prompt notifications to citizens about various hazards that could affect their area. Director of the Met Service, Evan Thompson, told JIS News that SmartAlert enables persons to receive instant warnings, through their smartphone or laptop, about flash flooding, hurricane activity and bushfires. He said that...

The capacity of the Meteorological Service Division (Met Service) to forecast and convey weather information to the public is being strengthened under a project being undertaken through international partnership. Providing details at a JIS Think Tank on Monday (March 21), Director of the Met Service, Evan Thompson, said that the Building Resilience through Climate Adaptation Technologies (BReTCAT) project will bring...

The Meteorological Service Division (Met Service) will officially launch the Bush Fire Warning Index on World Meteorological Day, March 23. Establishment of the Bush Fire Warning Index and Management System began in 2019, with the Met Service and Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) compiling information on bush fire occurrences to create a pre-emptive tool for their prediction. “We are now at...