The Hydrometeorological Service yesterday convened its 21st National Climate Outlook Forum to examine likely conditions over the next three to six months and their implications for agriculture, health and disaster preparedness.
According to a post on the agency’s Facebook page, the forum brought together stakeholders from the health, agriculture, disaster-management and other sectors to consider the national climate outlook and current conditions.
Discussions also covered the relationship between climate and health, the impact of changing conditions on agriculture, and the Common Alerting Protocol used to circulate emergency warnings.
The agency said participants shared their experiences and concerns and considered how climate information could be used to improve planning and response before conditions changed.
The meeting was held against the backdrop of warnings about reduced rainfall, higher temperatures and developing El Niño conditions.
Kiskadee Watch reported last month that Hydromet had warned of hot spells continuing until October, with reduced rainfall and higher temperatures potentially placing crops under moisture stress, affecting pasture quality and increasing livestock’s need for water.
Hydromet had projected that Guyana could experience as many as 80 hot-spell days this year, compared with a historical annual maximum of 30, according to Kiskadee Watch
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