BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – RESIDENTS across St. Kitts and Nevis are once again being urged to conserve water as El Niño conditions are expected to continue driving dry weather and prolonged drought across the Federation.
Despite the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season now being underway, the Federation has recorded significantly below-average rainfall during the first five months of the year, with little improvement seen so far in June.
National Disaster Response Coordinator, Livingston Pemberton, recently provided a sobering assessment of the situation, revealing that climate forecasts from the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) indicate that prolonged drought conditions are likely to persist under the current El Niño phenomenon.
According to Pemberton, these drought conditions could have far-reaching implications for the Federation. He emphasized tha the phenomenon will impact the Federation "one way or another," noting that drought-like conditions could adversely affect the economy and should be taken seriously by all residents.
Underscoring the challenges facing the country, Senior Meteorological Officer Elmo Burke explained that El Niño is affecting not only St. Kitts and Nevis but the wider Caribbean region, resulting in drought conditions of varying severity.
He revealed that rainfall recorded at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport up to the end of May was well below normal, with the data showing 6.84 inches less than the long-term average of 15.5 inches for the same period.
"Put simply, we have received 44 per cent less rainfall up to the end of May when compared to our long-term average. When we speak of our long-term average, we are referring to the period 1990 to 2020."
The situation has not improved at the start of June, with Burke noting that only 0.05 inches of rainfall had been recorded at the airport, compared to the average June rainfall of 3.41 inches.
"As such, a drought warning was issued for us here in St. Kitts and Nevis in the month of May, and this is expected to persist through the hurricane season up to the end of November," Burke said.
"The upcoming hurricane season, although it is the time when we would record most of our rainfall, the forecast indicates that this drought trend is likely to persist into the season."
Speaking during a press conference hosted by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Burke explained that El Niño is "the abnormal warming of the equatorial eastern Pacific Ocean."
"The resulting effects for us here in the Caribbean are increased wind shear in the upper level, as well as sinking air aloft. The expected increased level of wind shear will inhibit deep convection over our area and thus limit the amount of rainfall we would usually receive as tropical waves and cyclones traverse our area," he explained.
Burke added that the sinking air associated with El Niño also contributes to higher-than-normal temperatures, particularly during the peak summer months.
"Similarly, the intrusion of Saharan dust, which usually lasts through the summer months, will lead to relatively stable weather conditions across our shores, in addition to the reduced air quality associated with these episodes. The coupling impacts from the strong El Niño conditions that we are forecasting, as well as the Saharan dust intrusion," he added.
Burke cautioned that while periods of heavy rainfall are still possible during the hurricane season, the overall outlook remains one of below-normal rainfall due to the dominant climatic drivers currently affecting the region.
With water supplies under increasing pressure, officials are urging residents to conserve water and reduce non-essential usage, including watering lawns and washing vehicles.
Water Engineer Cromwell Williams stressed that public cooperation will be critical in managing the current drought conditions.
"We do not lack or need to alter our water development strategy. Our present water scarcity is due to a failure to implement that strategy," Williams said.
"Today, I am here to appeal to you the water consumers to understand that your role is in responding to drought conditions such as those we are currently experiencing."
Williams pointed to a drought response document prepared by the Water Services Department that outlines the responsibilities of both consumers and government agencies during periods of water scarcity.
He emphasized that conservation efforts require collective action.
The 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 to November 30. Forecasters at NOAA are predicting between eight and 14 named storms, with winds of 39 mph or higher. Of those, three to six are expected to become hurricanes, including one to three major hurricanes classified as Category 3, 4, or 5, with winds exceeding 111 mph.
