Meteorological Service

The Meteorological Division is comprised of three distinct Branches, all overseen by the Director of Meteorological Services and managed by separate Branch Heads. These are the Administration and Support Services Branch, the Weather Branch and the Climate Branch. The Weather Branch is concerned with the observation and forecasting of weather conditions over and around the island.

It consists of a Radar Section that closely monitors and reports on rainfall occurrence within a range of nearly 500 kilometres
an Upper-Air Station (the Caribbean Rawinsonde Network Section) that monitors the characteristics of the upper atmosphere
a Synoptic Sub-Station operating within the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay that makes observations and meteorological reports for use in international air navigation
and a National Meteorological Centre at the Norman Manley International Airport that provides weather forecasting services for general dissemination.

his Section, in particular, maintains a continuous Hurricane Watch during the hurricane season and is responsible for the issuance of severe weather warnings. Data for forecasts are obtained locally from observation points at the surface, as well as from the radar station, and internationally through telecommunication links with regional and international centres and via stationary and polar orbiting satellites.

The Administration and Support Services Branch provides efficient and effective administration in the areas of personnel, office management, accounting services, a registry and a library. These all function out of the Meteorological Headquarters.