BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – MANY people in the Federation were left in awe yesterday (Oct. 19) as they were unable to see Nevis from St. Kitts and visa versa, as well as several areas on the islands due to the presence of haze.
In their report and outlook for the Eastern Caribbean today, forecasters indicated that a dry, stable and dusty air mass associated with a high-pressure system would result in minimal shower activity over the islands from Puerto Rico southwards to Barbados.
Regional meteorologist yesterday disclosed that high-level moisture clouds had passed over the Caribbean, which stretched all the way to Africa’s Coast – Cape Verde islands – and brought with it a plume of Saharan dust.
Chief Meteorologist Elmo Burke also confirmed the passage of Saharan dust.
“The haze originated from over the Sahara, so you would have had a Sahara dust event, and the dust would have been picked up in the winds and travel across the Atlantic.”
Burke said that haze would travel across the water from time to time, but it should not be a matter of grave concern.
He however warns that people with respiratory ailments should be very careful when venturing outdoors.
“The major concern is for persons with respiratory ailments because that can affect them.”
Today’s weather conditions for the Eastern Caribbean will see the islands generally fair to partly cloudy and hazy with little chance of showers.
A lingering moisture and instability from the passage of a tropical wave will cause variably cloudy skies with brief passing showers and a slight chance of isolated thunderstorms over the southern Windward Islands and Trinidad and Tobago.
The weather outlook for St. Kitts and Nevis will see dry, stable and dusty air mass that will result in little or no shower activity over the Leewards and BVI today and tonight.
