Regional weather experts meet to discuss rainfall

Meteorologists from Central America are meeting in Belize to discuss the regional climate and specifically what the next few months may hold in the way of rainfall. The forum is the third in a series of annual climate outlook forums. Ramon Frutos, the Agro meteorologist at the National Meteorological Service, says this year’s gathering is being hosted in Belize at an opportune time due to the intense dry season and the recent episode of dramatic rainfall.

Ramon Frutos, Agro meteorologist, National Met Service

“What we are trying to come up with is a regional forecast for Central America which will span June, July and August, the first three months of our rainy season and we can use this forecast. The past two forums for example were only like preliminary forums where we were trying out this forecast technique…this climatic forecast technique to see how effective it could be and the past two forums results have been fairly well and what we are trying to do is to improve on the information we are providing to the public and see how the public can use the seasonal forecast for planning purposes.”

That regional forecast will be presented during Wednesday’s forum. Frutos says they believe that the precipitation pattern will be the same for Belize, Southern Yucatan, Honduras and Eastern Nicaragua. The Regional Climate Meeting is being hosted by the Regional Committee for Hydrological Resources of Central America, the Office for Global Programmes of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Meteorological Service.