Climate Change Fuels Rare Early Wet Season Drought in Puerto Rico and Jamaica

A recent study by World Weather Attribution found that human-induced climate change reduced rainfall in the Caribbean during the early wet season, making extreme dry spells more likely. In Puerto Rico, the driest April-to-August period in 70 years was recorded, with precipitation 64% below average. This led to 48-hour rotating water rationing affecting 180,000 water service customers in the capital region. In Jamaica, critically depleted reservoirs forced the government to place seven parishes under strict water prohibition.