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Caribbean weather - Forecasting

Weather forecasting duties in the English speaking Caribbean

There are two levels of Meteorological Offices within the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO) Member countries:

(a) Weather Forecast and Warning Offices.  These Offices operate essentially round-the-clock and year-round. Weather forecasts and warnings of severe weather for the public, aviation, marine and industrial interests. Some Offices also prepare special forecasts and advice for use in agriculture and water-resources. These offices are located in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

(b)  Aeronautical Meteorological Offices.  These Offices undertake weather observations mainly in support of the public and the aviation industry, and carry out climate functions.  Their hours of operation are determined by aeronautical requirements.  Such offices are located in Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Montserrat, St. Kitts/Nevis, St. Vincent, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Jamaica, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago have both types of meteorological offices. In addition, Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Office is a designated ICAO Area Forecast Centre with responsibility for meteorological information in the Piarco Flight Information Region and Upper Air Information regions Area Forecasts with significant weather for the Piarco Forecast Area (bounded by 10^oN and 2^oN,  50^oW and 60^oW).

By agreement under the CMO, the some Forecast and Warning offices have responsibilities beyond their national boundaries:

• Antigua & Barbuda for the islands and coastal waters of Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat and St. Kitts and Nevis;

• Barbados for the islands and coastal waters of Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines;

• Trinidad and Tobago for severe weather advisories and warnings for Grenada and its Dependencies;

• Bahamas (Non CMO Member) for the islands and coastal waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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