Just 24 hours before the 2026 summer season officially gets underway, a oppressive heat dome has parked itself across the Caribbean, bringing life-threatening extreme heat that could push the heat index as high as 43 degrees Celsius in multiple local areas, senior meteorological analyst Jean Suriel has warned.
This extreme heat event is not occurring in isolation: it is being supercharged by the overlapping influence of three additional atmospheric and climate patterns that are making the dangerous conditions far worse. These include the sixth Saharan dust cloud to reach the Caribbean nation’s territory this season, the ongoing warming impacts of El Niño, and the long-term cumulative warming driven by human-caused climate change.
Suriel detailed that the dangerous convergence of these multiple factors has created an almost unendurable outdoor and indoor environment for local residents, carrying measurable health risks that disproportionately impact the most vulnerable groups in the population. Young children, elderly adults, and individuals living with chronic pre-existing medical conditions face the greatest threat of heat-related illness during this event.
To reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes, the meteorological specialist has issued clear public guidance. He urges all residents to maintain consistent hydration throughout the day, skip any unnecessary prolonged activity under direct sunlight between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. when UV radiation and temperatures peak, and opt for lightweight, breathable clothing that supports natural body cooling. Beyond individual actions, Suriel also called on national and local public authorities to ramp up public heat safety prevention campaigns, and maintain close monitoring of how the ongoing heatwave is disrupting the country’s daily operations and key economic productive activities.