The heat is on

Claude Mills, Staff Reporter

THIS summer is expected to be a scorcher. According to the Meteorological Service, early indications are that it could well be hotter than last year's.

"Generally, 2001 has been warmer than 2000 so far," Clifford Mahlung, meteorologist and expert in climate change at the National Meteorological Division, said Friday.

Last year, the average monthly temperatures at the Norman Manley International Airport for the months of July and August were 29.6 degree Celsius, and 29.3 degree Celsius respectively. The highest extreme maximum temperature recorded was 35.9 degrees Celsius, in August 1997 at this airport.

This summer promises to be no different.

"The trend so far this year would suggest that temperatures for the summer will be above normal. Plus, the comparison of the rainfall pattern over the last two 30-year periods (1921-50 and 1951-80) shows that we receive less rainfall than normal in the second part of the year. Therefore, we will be having higher temperatures, less rainfall and longer dry spells," Mr. Mahlung said.

Meanwhile, the sales of air-conditioning units are increasing, in response to the heat.

"It is bread and butter time now for air-conditioning sales. More people are coming in this year than last year, and sales have been better so far," a sales manager of RMC Commercial Equipment, said yesterday.

Ronie Miller-Brown, marketing administrator of Appliance Traders Limited (ATL), told The Sunday Gleaner that air-conditioning units are seasonal products, and sales normally "heat up at this time of the year."

However, Mrs. Miller-Brown was critical of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) for the recent power generating woes.

"Sales are going well, but people are feeling uncomfortable because why should you buy an air-conditioning unit if you are unable to use it because there's no power," she said.

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) is sweltering under the heat of public opinion following another round of power cuts last week, when a 65-megawatt unit at its Old Harbour Plant was taken off-line. The independent supplier, Jamaica Private Power Company (JPPC) had also withdrawn a second unit for maintenance from service. Both of these units are now back online.

"But despite the improvements this week, until full capacity is restored in August, JPSCo. will still be operating on very thin reserve power margins," Hubert Lawrence of the Corporate Communication and Marketing Department of the JPSCo., told The Sunday Gleaner last Friday.

According to the company, the forecast demand for the month of July has been pegged at 568.1MW, while August's peak demand is set at 573.1MW. Last summer's demand for power for the months of July and August was 531.9MW and 573.1MW respectively.

Meanwhile, as in the case of air-conditioning units, there is also a brisk sale of fans. A salesperson at the Courts branch on Slipe Road, said that "fans sell the fastest at this time of the year...the pace on the sales of fans is faster than usual for this early part of the summer."

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