PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service officially declared the start of the 2016 dry season on Monday.

The Met office said the start of the harsh dry season was based on indicators which include the prevalence of westerly upper-level winds, a general reduction in moisture and the displacement of the North Atlantic Sub-Tropical High to lower latitudes.

The outlook for the 2016 Dry Season indicates a harsh Dry Season will most likely occur, with odds that are highest for below average rainfall totals for the season overall, across the entire country”.

The Met Office expects the first half of the season from January to March to be particularly hot and dry with below average rainfall totals and hotter than average daytime and nighttime temperatures forecast across all areas of the country.

“As a result, there are very high odds for a larger number of hot days (temperature greater than 33 degrees Celsius) and longer periods of consecutive dry days than usual during January to March, but especially so, during February and March. At the same time the odds are highest for near average to above average rainfall for the period April to May 2016”.

As a consequence, the Met Office said it is very likely that the first half of the 2016 Dry Season, but especially the months of February and March, will produce dry spell conditions in the country.

As a result, the Climate Early Warning System (CEWS) of the Met office is currently in Dry Spell Watch mode.