Transcript Weather impacts on Jamaica

WEATHER IMPACTS ON
JAMAICA IN 2012
Evan Thompson,
Meteorological Service, Jamaica
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
TOPOGRAPHIC
MAP OF
JAMAICA
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
STATION
NETWORK
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
STATION
NETWORK
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
STATION
NETWORK
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
RAINFALL
TREND
250
200
150
100
50
0
MEAN
2012
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
HURRICANE
SEASON
2012
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
HURRICANE
SEASON
2012

TROPICAL CYCLONES THAT
THREATENED JAMAICA

Tropical Storm ERNESTO (Aug 1-6)

Tropical Storm ISAAC (Aug 21-27)

Hurricane SANDY (Oct 22-25)
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
ERNESTO
TRACK
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
TROPICAL
STORM
ERNESTO
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
TROPICAL
STORM
ERNESTO
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
ISAAC
TRACK
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
TROPICAL
STORM
ISAAC
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
TROPICAL
STORM
ISAAC
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
SANDY
TRACK
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
SANDY
TRACK OVER
JAMAICA
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
SATELLITE
IMAGERY OF
SANDY
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
SANDY
EXTREME
DATA

During the passage of Hurricane Sandy, which
made landfall at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday,
October 24, 2012, the following was recorded:





Maximum Sustained Wind – 85 km/h
Maximum Wind Gust – 115 km/h
Minimum Pressure – 972.1 mb
Maximum 24-hr Rainfall - 282.6 mm
Loss of Life - 1
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
SANDY
STRENGTHS


The Meteorological Service received high commendation
from the Jamaican public, various agencies and the
Government, including the Prime Minister.
Strengths were seen in the:
 accuracy of the NHC forecasts
 early warning system and NHC coordination
 timely communication with disaster management officials
 detailed bulletins issued through the media
 use of forecasting tools, including SMARTMET and CCRIF
RTFS
 numerous radio interviews and continuous television
presence
 collaboration of NMC Officers
 availability of real-time AWS data
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
SANDY
WEAKNESSES
 Recognition
is, however, given to the fact
that there could be improvements.
 Weaknesses
were seen in the:
inoperability of weather radar
 unavailability of some Internet-based AWS
data

Weather Impacts on Jamaica
OCTOBER
STORMS

Other Tropical Cyclone Threats during
the month of October since 2000

2001 – Hurricane Michelle

2003 – Tropical Storm Odette

2005 – Hurricane Wilma

2007 – Tropical Storm Noel

2010 – Hurricane Tomas
Weather Impacts on Jamaica
“FREAK”
STORMS
- Kingston
•
(June 26)
- St. Elizabeth
•
(July 26)
- Clarendon
•
(September 30)
confirmed to be
Microburst from
thunderstorm
WEATHER IMPACTS ON
JAMAICA IN 2012
Evan Thompson
Meteorological Service, Jamaica