As the Caribbean region’s 2020 Heat Season draws close, the record shows how excessive heat is becoming the norm.
The Barbados-based Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) says several heat records were broken in the Caribbean in 2020. Notably, in September, Dominica, Grenada, and Puerto Rico broke their national/territorial all-time high-temperature records.
On September 15th Canefield in Dominica recorded a daytime high temperature of 35.7°C. One day later, Point Salinas in Grenada recorded 34°C. According to the US National Weather Service, Aguirre in Puerto Rico recorded 100°F (37.8°C) on September 17th
The Caribbean Heat Season, the time of the year during which most heatwaves occur, has 1995 been from May to October since about 1995. The peak period occurs during August and September when high humidity coupled with reduced wind speeds increases heat discomfort.