Pat Roxborough, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU -
THIS SUMMER is expected to be hotter than last year's, according to weather experts who are predicting an average temperature of 32 degrees Celsius during the hottest months of the year.
"The predicted average temperature for the island for this summer is 32 degrees, however, this is an average and some days it will be higher, some days lower," said Clifford Mahlung, head of data processing in the National Meteorological Service's climate branch. "The extreme temperature is expected to be around 33.5 degrees Celsius."
Based on readings taken at the Norman Manley International Airport, last year's summer temperatures averaged at 29 degrees Celsius as did the summers of 1997 and 1996. The summers of 1995 and 1998 were a few degrees hotter, causing local weather experts to conclude that although average island temperatures have risen during the 1990s the pattern is still too irregular to make any long term forecasts.
"To predict for this summer would be difficult because of factors other than meteorological conditions for example the effects of global warming could produce higher than normal temperatures," said Mr. Mahlung.
Already some locals are feeling the heat. Patrina Hall, a saleswoman who is into her eighth month of pregnancy, said she is finding the first few days of summer to be horribly hot.
"It's awful!" she said.
