Science & Nature
First storm of the season heading south to Cuba
(CNS): The first storm of the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season is already setting the stage for what is expected to be a very uncertain year. Tropical Storm Arlene emerged around lunchtime Friday, some 265 miles west of Fort Myers, Florida. With sustained winds of 40mph, the National Hurricane Center said Arlene was moving south towards […]
Premier warns of bigger storms due to climate change
(CNS): Climate change is not a distant projection but an ongoing reality that is affecting many aspects of our lives, and as hurricane season opened on Thursday, Premier Wayne Panton urged people to be vigilant and prepared, given the potential for much more intense storms. Scientific projections suggest that strong hurricanes will become more commonplace […]
Storm brews in the Gulf as hurricane season opens
(CNS): As the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially started on Thursday, an area of low pressure appeared over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico with a broad but well-defined circulation, and according to the National Hurricane Center, it was showing signs of organisation. Forecasters said environmental conditions remain marginally favourable for development, and a short-lived tropical […]
DoE and coastguard contain sinking boat
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Coast Guard and the Department of Environment have teamed up to mitigate the potential spread of fuel and oil from a sinking vessel in the Governor’s Creek area. The 76-foot Cayman Mermaid was abandoned by its owners, Mermaid Cruises, several years ago. The DoE has deployed a 400ft boom to protect […]
NOAA confirms uncertainty of 2023 storm season
(CNS): Last week, forecasters at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center called for a near-normal hurricane season in the Atlantic this year, though their forecast is as uncertain as other long-range reviews for the forthcoming season, which starts this week. Predicting a 40% chance of a near-normal season, a 30% chance of an above-normal season and a […]
Sea inundation inevitable now, officials warn
(CNS): Sea level rise in the Cayman Islands is already having a significant impact on low-lying and coastal properties, and it is going to get far worse over the next 25 years, officials have warned. As the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency begins its public meetings on the draft Climate Change Policy, the most […]
CIMA warns of economic risk linked to climate
(CNS): Climate change is expected to increase risks within the financial system in many ways, the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority said in a report assessing the stability of the local economy and salient trends. Local institutions face acute and chronic climate-related risks potentially causing “dire economic consequences”, CIMA warned, as the regulator seeks ways to […]
140 acres of mangrove at risk on CPA agenda
(CNS): Just four applications to be heard by the Central Planning Authority during a single meeting pose a threat to over 140 acres of mangroves, as development continues to take precedence over the environment. Despite being a protected species that mitigate the impact of climate change, the loss of mangrove forest continues in Cayman apace.
Concerns raised as ship anchors close to dive site
(CNS): The Celebrity Equinox was anchored very close to the Devil’s Grotto dive site on Thursday, and local divers and operators were concerned that it could be damaging the reef and posing a danger to anyone diving in the area. While it turned out that the ship was within the port zone, the situation nevertheless […]
El Niño won’t protect the Caribbean from storms
(CNS): Regional climate specialists are warning that the likely development of El Niño conditions this summer will not protect the Caribbean from severe storms and hurricanes. While the phenomenon is associated with drought, the Caribbean Sea is unusually warm, providing the opportunity for strong hurricanes to develop even if conditions are, as anticipated, very dry […]
Local sea temperatures break records
(CNS): Local sea surface temperatures reached new highs this weekend, with Friday going down in the history books as the hottest 19 May since records began, according to figures from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The news comes as officials here begin hosting a series of public meetings to discuss the new draft […]
