Heat Puts Coral Reefs in the Caribbean Under Stress

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados –The Barbados-based Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) Monday said that with significant warming within the last three months, the accumulated heat stress now puts corals in the eastern Caribbean, specifically the Windward Islands, at risk of bleaching within the coming weeks.

Photo credit: Abby KnippIn its latest Caribbean Coral Reef Watch bulletin, the CIMH said that the entire Windward Islands- Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada – are under an Alert Level 1.

It said Belize, the Bahamas, Barbuda, are also experiencing Alert Level 1 conditions while southeast Trinidad is currently under Alert Level 2, with bleaching reported.

The bulletin notes that strong warming in and around the Caribbean region during September, the warmest month of the year has led to Sea Surface Temperature (SST) currently being around one degree above average.

The CIMH said that the bleaching alert outlook for the Caribbean forecasts St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, and Tobago will be under Alert Level 2 conditions in November persisting into December.

It said Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, and the Leeward Islands are predicted to experience Alert Level 1 conditions in November.