NOAA heat-health workshop to result in new forecasting tools for Caribbean region
KINGSTON, Jamaica— The introduction of a new forecasting tool aimed at helping to prevent heat-related deaths is one of the expected outcomes of a three-day workshop on Heat-Health Early Warning Systems (HHEWS) currently underway in Kingston.
Organised in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the workshop has participants from across the Caribbean region and Africa.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, NOAA’s Chief Scientist Dr Sarah Kapnick emphasised the importance of early warning systems for extreme heat events, citing rising global temperatures and record-breaking years.
“With climate change, the excessive heat events are expected to become more frequent, more extreme and for longer durations, so you don’t get a break in between the hot days in the ways that we used to in the past. This means that more people will be exposed to conditions that can lead to illness or in some cases death,” said Kapnick.
“This is why I want to emphasise the importance of all of us working together among operational forecasters, disaster managers, public health officials, and government agencies; so that early warnings for heat are truly end to end and, our populations are receiving timely information to make critical decisions,” added Kapnick.
According to Kapnick, NOAA is working on an experimental tool that is capable of predicting extreme heat events four weeks prior to their onset, which will help populations prepare.
“NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is also working on an experimental tool that will find real time urban heat island hazard outlets for major cities around the globe. This experimental tool extends out to four weeks, so it gives you some time to be able to plan,” she said.
“In fact, today the tool is displaying an alert for excessive heat for Kingston. So, remember everyone drink lots of water. Note that this is experimental and not yet operational, but it illustrates NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center capabilities,” she added.
Kapnick also used the occasion to share that the NOAA will work with pilot countries, like Jamaica, to integrate the heat wave forecasts with health data, to issue warnings and alerts when necessary.
The three-day workshop is an initiative of the (United States) President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE) programme.
Through PREPARE, the United States partners with the Caribbean to facilitate climate adaptation and resilience in the region.
Participants included professionals from National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs); the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH); Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA); Health Districts; Pan American Health Organization (PAHO); World Meteorological Organization RA-IV Regional Office; and non-governmental organisations such as the Red Cross, local authorities and community organisations.