Jamaicans are once again being warned to brace for a hotter than normal summer, with experts forecasting periods of excessive heat in the months ahead.
The warning comes as countries across the globe grapple with rising temperatures and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
For many Jamaicans, the summer heat can feel unforgiving, with the sun bearing down from above and warm air lingering long after sunset.
While concerns remain about the impact on the environment, public health specialist and family health physician Dr. Orville Nembhard says citizens should take steps to protect themselves from heat-related illnesses and skin damage.
“The body needs to operate within certain temperatures for it to function adequately, and when the temperature rises beyond that, it creates problems. Amongst the things we can do to reduce the risk of that is avoid exposure to the sunlight in the hottest times of the day. Make sure you’re adequately hydrated, meaning you’re drinking enough water. Avoid certain drinks such as alcohol and caffeine, and high sugar drinks which aid dehydration,” he suggested.
Dr. Nembhard reiterated limiting time outdoors during peak hours and taking additional precautions to reduce exposure to the sun.
“If we’re dealing with just the heat, then the measures I’ve described would be adequate. Certainly, if you want to protect again sun exposure then minimise your time out in the sun, minimise the time out at peak periods, and certainly, use a sunscreen to protect the skin,” he advised.
Dr. Nembhard’s comments come as the country prepares for what could be a particularly hot and dry period.
Last week, Principal Director of the Meteorological Service, Evan Thompson, warned Jamaicans to expect hotter and dry conditions over the coming months as a Super El Niño develops in the Pacific Ocean.
El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern that develops every two to seven years, and can last between nine and twelve months. It occurs when unusually warm ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific alter atmospheric circulating patterns affecting weather conditions across the globe.