By Sue-Ann Wayow
TRINIDAD records its coldest temperature in ten years – 18.3℃ on Monday.
The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) in a statement noted that the temperature was recorded at Piarco during Monday’s pre-dawn hours.
“This was due to colder air from the north encroaching onto Trinidad and Tobago, where the winds were mostly calm, with pre-existing very dry conditions and almost cloud-free skies for most of the night. This is the lowest temperature recorded at Piarco for January during the last decade, since 2012,” TTMS explained.
The lowest minimum temperature on record at Piarco, is 16.1℃, which occurred on the nights of January 21 and 30, 1964, followed by 16.4℃ on the night of January 28, 1976.
TTMS stated although there was a slow start to the cool season in Trinidad and Tobago, the first half of January had cool temperatures in the mid to lower 20s, eventually dropping to low 20’s during the second half of January and culminating this last week with morning temperatures below 20℃.
There is a high probability that cool nights will continue into the first week of February and possibly drop lower than 18.3℃.
Individuals who are susceptible to low temperatures and who experience respiratory ailments must be proactive at this time and wear warm and/or extra clothing, especially during this coming week, the TTMS advises.
TTMS said that generally, the coldest night in any given year in Trinidad and Tobago depended on individual weather systems, present at the particular time. However, this is always based on a seasonal cycle where on average for much of Trinidad and Tobago, the coldest nights occur during December to February, with January tending to be on average, cooler than the other months.
On occasions, the month of March has also produced sub-20 minimum temperatures. It is for these and other reasons that the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service 2023 Dry Season Rainfall and Temperature Outlook indicated, “Few nights during January and February are likely to be relatively cold with minimum temperatures falling below 20.℃”.
