The Cayman Islands National Weather Service has announced that “a thunderstorm advisory” will be in effect from Tuesday morning through Thursday
This is the first time that Compass Media has seen a specific advisory issued by the National Weather Service office for thunderstorms.
Chief meteorologist, Kerry Powery said the advisory was in keeping with the new alert, watch and warning messaging that was introduced in 2024.
“There is a 40 percent chance that thunderstorms will pass over the Cayman Islands on Tuesday and the weather service is recommending the public adopts regular lightning precautions,” Powery said. “We are not anticipating that much rainfall, so there is no flood advisory issued with the forecast.”
An overview of the new alert messaging system is posted on the Cayman Islands National Weather Service website.
It states that in 2022, the UN Secretary-General launched a global initiative to ensure that everyone on earth is protected by an early warning system by 2027.
“The World Meteorological Organization is leading this charge by promoting impact-based forecasting – a system designed to provide more useful and actionable information to help people prepare for hazardous weather.”
The overview goes on to say, “In alignment with this initiative, the Cayman Islands National Weather Service (CINWS), in collaboration with Hazard Management Cayman Islands (HMCI) and the Department of Communications (DoC), has enhanced its weather forecasting and warning systems.
“This new approach adheres to international standards and best practices, ensuring that the Cayman Islands receives accurate, timely and easy-to-understand weather information.”
The weather forecast for Tuesday, 17 March says that a pre-frontal trough will develop across the region, with moisture being drawn in from the southern Caribbean.
“A significant uptick in shower activity is likely from Tuesday morning as a frontal boundary begins to clash with this feature and stalls across the northwest Caribbean. A thunderstorm advisory will be in effect from Tuesday morning.”
The forecast indicates, “Cloudy skies with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms, especially across the Sister Islands. Showers will become locally heavy at times. Temperatures will rise to the low 80’s °F. Winds will be east to southeast at 5 to 10 knots with higher gusts at times in showers. Seas will be slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. A Thunderstorm Advisory will be in effect.”
Hazard Management Cayman Islands has lightning safety tips on the Caymanprepared website.
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