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Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO) C A R I B B E A N M E T E O R O L O G I C A L O R G A N I Z A T I O N Revised REPORT OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF DIRECTORS OF METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES Kingstown, ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES 26 NOVEMBER 2007 DMS2007, Page 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 At the kind invitation of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the 2007 Meeting of Directors of Meteorological Services was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on Monday 26th November 2007 under the Chairmanship of Mr Tyrone Sutherland, Coordinating Director of the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO). The meeting was addressed by Mr. Godfred Pompey, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, National Security, Legal Affairs, Grenadines Affairs, Public Service and Energy who welcomed the participants to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. 1.2 Mr. Pompey noted that the Caribbean Islands are vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes and it is also seeing possible changes to climate. He stated, “Our region continues to be impacted. Changes to our seasons are a reality – no longer can we boast of distinct seasons (wet and dry). The question is, what is the cause (s) of such changes? The debate continues.” He also noted that with all of these changes and developments, the role of the Caribbean Meteorological Organization in assisting National Meteorological Services to enhance their services to the public and other special users cannot be questioned. 1.3 A list of participants and observers attending the Meeting is attached as Annex I and a copy of the Agenda adopted by the Meeting is attached as Annex II to this Report. THE 2007 HURRICANE SEASON (Agenda Item 2) 2.1 The 2007 Hurricane Season was an above normal season with fourteen (14) named storms, four (4) hurricanes and two (2) intense hurricanes. The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) was forecast to be between 140% - 200% above the median on 9th August. However, ACE as measured to 26th November was just 75% of the median, indicating that in terms of energy measurement, 2007 is a below normal season. As had been traditional, the Meeting discussed the impact of the season on the individual Member States and the overall effectiveness of the region’s warning system for hurricanes and other severe weather. 2.2 The summary below focuses on the main systems to affect the CMO Member States. Preliminary statistics on the weather systems are also provided: • The 2007 Atlantic Hurricane season started in May with one sub-tropical storm Andrea which developed in the Western Atlantic Ocean near Florida; • June produced the two tropical storms Barry and Chantal, which developed in the Gulf of Mexico and the Western Atlantic respectively; • August produced three tropical cyclones in the Atlantic, hurricanes Dean and Felix, and tropical storm Erin. Dean was the first category 5 hurricane to make landfall this season; DMS2007, Page 2 • September was very active with seven named cyclones and one depression forming in the Atlantic Basin, in addition Felix which formed during August became an intense hurricane in September and became the second category 5 hurricane to make landfall during the season; • October produced tropical storm Noel, which brought torrential rainfall to Cuba, The Bahamas, Haiti, Santo Domingo and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Noel also produced flooding and landslides in Jamaica and there were two deaths. Antigua received it most rainfall from the system in its embryonic stage. y Dean developed from a tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic and became a tropical storm on 14th August and a hurricane on 16th August. The centre of hurricane Dean passed between Martinique and St. Lucia as a category 2 hurricane at 0935UTC on 17th August. Tropical storm warnings were issued for the Member States of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the British Virgins Islands, Grenada and its Dependencies, Montserrat, St. Kitts/Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as the islands of Saba. St Eustatius and St. Maarten. Hurricane warnings were issued for Dominica, Martinique and St. Lucia. Dean later threatened Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Belize where hurricane warnings were also issued. The northern extreme of the eyewall of Dean brushed the southernmost peninsula near Portland Bight in Jamaica and the Belize Meteorological Service estimated winds of hurricane strength impacted on the northern part of the country. During its passage through the Caribbean, there were twelve (12) deaths attributed to the hurricane; one death each in St. Lucia and the Dominican Republic, two (2) deaths each in Dominica, Martinique, and Trinidad and Tobago and four deaths in Jamaica. People were also reported missing in Haiti. Infrastructural and agricultural damage in Belize was estimated at US $23 million. • Felix formed from a tropical wave to the east of Grenada on 31st August and its centre passed approximately twelve miles to the north of the island. Felix strengthened into a hurricane on 1st September and passed to south of Jamaica on 3rd September as a category 5 hurricane. Felix made landfall on the Nicaraguan coast to the north of Puerto Cabezas. In its passage through the Caribbean, there were flooding and landslides in Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, which also destroyed a concert venue in Grenada. Jamaica, experienced coastal flooding from sea swells and wave action. Downdrafts from the thundershowers removed roofs in Trinidad, Grenada and St. Lucia; however, no lives were lost. DMS2007, Page 3 PRELIMINARY 2007 HURRICANE SEASON STATISTICS MAX WIND NAME DATES DEATHS (MPH) Tropical Strom ANDREA 09 – 10 MAY 50 0 Tropical Storm BARRY 01 – 02 JUN 55 0 Tropical Storm CHANTAL 31 JUL – 01 AUG 55 0 Hurricane DEAN 13 - 23 AUG 165 40 Tropical Storm ERIN 14 – 16 SEP 40 0 Hurricane FELIX 30 AUG – 04 SEP 165 101 Tropical Storm GABRIELLE 07 – 11 SEP 50 0 Hurricane HUMBERTO 12 - 13 SEP 85 1 Tropical Storm INGRID 12 – 17 SEP 45 0 Tropical Depression TEN 21 -22 SEP 35 0 Tropical Storm JERRY 23 – 24 SEP 40 0 Tropical Storm KAREN 24 – 29 SEP 70 0 Hurricane LORENZO 25 - 28 SEP 80 3 Tropical Storm MELISSA 28 – 30 SEP 45 0 Tropical Depression FIFTEEN 11 – 12 OCT Tropical Storm NOEL 28 OCT -02 NOV 60 108 2.3 Representatives of Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago made presentations of the passage and impact of Hurricanes Dean and Felix on their countries, which were highly appreciated by the Meeting. 2.4 All Directors gave brief reports of the impact of the hurricane season on their countries. It was clear that, in addition to the impact of the many tropical storms and hurricanes, the year was marked by the excessive rainfall received through most of the year. Most States experienced several major flood events resulting in landslides, crop damage and some loss of life. Guyana reported severe thundershowers and minor flooding in low lying areas from the passage of tropical cyclones through the Eastern Caribbean Islands. St. Vincent and the Grenadines noted a number of funnel clouds during a specific period during the year, which caused damage to homes. In Dominica a funnel cloud produced some damage to Stevenson screen of the Meteorological Service. 2.5 The Director of the Barbados Meteorological Service indicated that there were two instances where advice provided by the US National Hurricane Center for the issuance of watches/warnings was not consistent with the level of threat from the tropical cyclones and was therefore rejected. DMS2007, Page 4 THE MEETING: Expressed condolences to the countries that suffered from the impacts of the hurricanes, as well as the loss of life and damage from all the other systems this year; Commended the Meteorological Services of Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago for their timely and accurate warnings for their countries and areas of responsibility during 2007 hurricane season. TRAINING (Agenda item 3) 3.1 The Principal informed the Meeting that during 2007 twenty-three (23) new students entered the Meteorology programme at Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH). Eighteen (18) were registered for the Entry-Level Technician course, and five (5) were registered for the Mid-Level Technician course. A major concern to CIMH was the non-receipt of the reports of those students which participated in the Entry Level Technicians Programme from the previous year. It was noted that non-delivery of these reports hindered the progress of the graduates, as certificates could not be awarded until the reports were received. 3.2 CIMH was accepting enrolment in the Senior-Level Technician course which was scheduled to start in January 2008 and the Entry-Level Technician course to start in February 2008. There are indications that there maybe sixteen (16) students enrolling in the Senior-Level Technician course. 3.3 The Meeting was informed that the two (2) students who completed the Senior Level Technician in June 2007 were only able to achieve the pass grade. Some students had expressed concern about some of the mathematics and physics courses in the Senior-Level Technician programme, which appeared to have some merit. This issue was being addressed by the Principal and the Chief of Meteorology. However, it was also noted that some students entering some programmes were very weak academically. CIMH would be making the mathematics and physics syllabuses available to the Directors of National Meteorological Services for preparatory work by prospective students. 3.4 The Principal expressed concern about the small number of pupils who were enrolled in the Hydrology Programmes.
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