GREAT BAY-- The National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) on Thursday announced that five new automated weather stations, supported by additional stand-alone rainfall gauges, have been installed and are expanding the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten’s ability to collect local weather data from different locations across the country.
The new monitoring network was implemented through Emergency Recovery Project I (ERP1) as part of the St. Maarten Trust Fund’s investment in strengthening the country’s recovery and resilience following major natural disasters.
Through ERP1, the Trust Fund supported the equipment, installation and training required to bring the new weather monitoring network into operation. The investment provides the Meteorological Department with additional tools to observe weather conditions and rainfall patterns across St. Maarten rather than relying on information from a more limited number of monitoring points.
Having observations available from different areas can help meteorologists develop a clearer picture of how weather conditions vary across the country, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and other significant weather events.
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The additional data can support forecasting, preparedness and informed decision-making by providing a stronger understanding of local conditions and how rainfall and other weather activity are affecting different parts of St. Maarten.
The investment forms part of a wider range of activities being carried out through ERP1. The project supports the repair and restoration of public and private infrastructure and is also aimed at strengthening the capacity of St. Maarten’s emergency services to respond to future natural disasters.
For a small island exposed to hurricanes, tropical systems and periods of intense rainfall, expanding the availability of reliable local weather information is an important component of disaster preparedness. The new stations and rainfall gauges strengthen the Meteorological Department’s capacity to collect observations that can contribute to weather analysis and emergency planning.
ERP1 is being implemented as part of the St. Maarten Trust Fund, with the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) responsible for managing a range of projects designed to support the country’s recovery and strengthen its resilience.
Members of the public are encouraged to follow MeteoSXM for official forecasts, advisories and weather information.
