Cayman Islands: Weather radar will improve hurricane alerts

A new radar system funded by the European Union will start operating on 1 June, at the start of the hurricane season, reports Caymanian Compass.

“This is paramount to our hurricane warning system. Right now hurricanes can slip through the western Caribbean unnoticed because we don’t have coverage here,” stated Tyrone Sutherland, co-ordinating director of the Caribbean Meteorological Organisation.

Once the system is up and running, the public will be able to access online tools, including a real-time weather map of the region. The technology will also be used to issue weather data to the US National Hurricane Center, enabling experts in Miami to issue earlier, more precise information when natural disasters strike.

Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly added: “This project is a key component of the European Commission’s strategy of supporting disaster risk reduction. The establishment of an early warning station in the Cayman Islands will significantly boost our region’s ability to prepare for natural disasters and adverse weather.”