Early Warning Color Code Meanings

    Thus far for 2020, the Trinidad & Tobago Meteorological Service has issued no less than 15 Adverse Weather Yellow Alerts for Trinidad and Tobago.

A typical Adverse Weather Alert from the MET Office looks like this:

    What do these warnings mean and how should we respond to these warnings?

    Well, a Yellow Alert is part of the MET Office Hydrometeorological (Hydro-Met) Warning System that alerts the public of potential hazards and recommends the necessary action to be taken to protect life and property.

    Hydrometeorological hazards are of atmospheric, hydrological or oceanographic origin. Examples are hurricanes,  floods, flash floods; drought; heatwaves and cold spells; and coastal storm surges.

    Therefore early warning alerts can be issued for rough seas, riverine flooding and even for the effects localised thunderstorms.

    These alerts are published in advance of the expected hazard via traditional media, social media, Short Message Service (SMS) and even via community loud hailer systems as in the case in south-west Tobago.

The Early Warning Colour Code System employed by the MET Office is shown below:

Click on the chart above for further information.