Assessment being conducted to determine possible impact of El Niño

Works including an impact assessment resources. According to the United States are currently being carried out by the Geological Survey (USGS), it aims to Ministry of Agriculture to ascertain what maximise economic and social welfare preparations Guyana needs to withstand the equitably, without severely affecting the effectsofElNiño. sustainability of vital ecosystems and the

El Niño is a climate pattern whereby environment. unusually warm ocean temperatures occur, Early in June, the Hydrometeorological influencing global weather patterns and Service forecast that below-normalamounts causing shifts in precipitation and of rainfall are expected across Guyana from temperature patterns in different parts of the July 2023. While typically, continuous world. It is estimated that the phenomenon wetness and localised flooding persist until could cause losses of some US$3-trillion theendofJulyinmanyregions,theadvisory aroundtheglobethisyear issued by the Hydrometeorological Service

During a press briefing held at his office stated, “The country is expected to begin on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown on transitioningintodryconditionsbymid-July Wednesday, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan duetotheinfluenceofElNiño.Atthisstage, Ali stated that the assessment will help it is expected that El Niño will be the main Guyana to determine how to keep the driver of local weather for the remainder of country’swaterstoragefacilitiesatoptimum theyear levelinpreparationfortheevent.“Oneofthe “All of Guyana can expect warmer than things that we have to do is what we call usual (above-normal) day and night-time Integrated Water Resource Management. temperatures over the coming months. So, water resource management becomes Temperatures are expected to be warmer very important in situations like this, but it’s when compared to the same period of a very thin line between keeping the storage previous years (and recent months). Dry facility at an optimum level and having a days will be significantly warmer than wet one-off event where the intensity of rainfall days.”The advisory further noted that water is so high that we have seen, that being at an supply in conservancies, reservoirs, and optimum level, creates other problems for inlandriversacrossallregionsisexpectedto flooding,”Dr Aliexplained. decreaseafterJune.Theongoingassessment Integrated Water Resources will assist in determining to what extent Management (IWRM) is a process Guyana will be hit by adverse weather promoting the development and conditions and mechanisms that can be put management of water, land, and related inplacetomitigatelosses.(DPI)