Week 10: Extreme Weather in Jamaica

Hello everyone! 

This week, we discussed extreme weather events, such as thunderstorms, severe thunderstorms, lightning, hail, and tornadoes. Therefore, I chose to center this blog post around one of the extreme weather events that Jamaica experiences: thunderstorms. 

Severe thunderstorms: How they form, safety precautions

According to the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, the rainy season occurs from June to November, and thunderstorms are a part of daily atmospheric conditions. On average, Jamaica experiences around 82 inches of rainfall annually. More specifically, Jamaica's North Coast gets an average of around 134 inches annually, due to relief rainfall that occurs in the mountainous regions. In November of 2023, Jamaica experienced such heavy rainfall that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining had to increase support for farmers. The thunderstorms caused farmers to suffer damages that led to an immense decline in the production of vegetable lines, as well as flash floods that many areas in Jamaica had to be placed on watch for. 

More importantly, thunderstorms in Jamaica often cause lightning, which can cause death, property damage and loss, or the destruction of livelihoods. Therefore, the Head of the Weather Branch at the Meteorological Service, Rohan Brown, has advised the citizens of Jamaica to take extra precautions when it comes to lightning. Moreover, Brown has stated that while lightning is one of the "least appreciated" meteorological hazards, it can be extremely dangerous, which is why the Met Service-as well as the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management- are trying to increase public awareness surrounding it. They encourage citizens to be aware of the early warning signs before a lightning strike, and then take the necessary steps to protect themselves. For example, they suggest to look out for dark and ominous clouds, listen for roars of thunder, and immediately get into either an enclosed building or a hardtop vehicle with the windows and doors closed. In the event that one cannot get to shelter, they are advised to crouch down in the open with their arms placed over their head, and avoid tall objects like trees. Also, citizens are advised to avoid water, metallic objects, and using electronic devices. 

References: 

https://jamaicatourbase.com/travel-tips/understanding-jamaicas-weather-and-climate 

https://www.britannica.com/place/Jamaica/Climate 

https://jis.gov.jm/features/take-precautions-against-lightning-strikes-met-service/#:~:text=Brown%20says%20that%20while%20in,cause%20the%20generation%20of%20lightning”.

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9942532#:~:text=Nearly%20all%20lightning%20occurs%20from,injuries%20from%202005%20through%202021.  


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