Toa Baja – Two weeks after the peak of the Hurricanes season -With an unusual cyclonic activity-, the meteorologist Ada Monzón He insisted on Tuesday to strengthen the “culture of preparation” and not lower the guard because any atmospheric phenomenon can be quickly intensified after the high temperatures of the Atlantic Ocean.
“Although ocean temperatures have been increasing, there is a lot of atmospheric stability in the Atlantic. And what is that atmospheric stability responding to? It can be due to temperature changes in different parts of the atmosphere. We still do not understand how climate change is affecting the development of tropical cyclones, but we do know that, due to global warming, water is heated, produces high temperatures and phenomena can be quickly intensified. Not necessarily because there is climate change you will have more hurricanes, but the hurricanes that are formed can be more intense, as we saw with Erin“ explained the Scientific at the Rafael “Pipo” Negrón Communal Center, in the Ingenio neighborhood.
After imparting an educational talk to a group of 200 Toabajeños, Monzón stressed that the parameters that have been repeated in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 must be analyzed.
“We are living a time when our geopolitical situation and natural threats – such as earthquakes and hurricanes – require that we all have a culture of preparation. Have a savings culture. We have to know how to spend on the right things to be prepared for an emergency”he said.
Monzón joined the meteorologist and reporter of First hour Jayson Vázquez For the first of four events sponsored by The new day Under the motto “Prepare for the hurricanes season”Vázquez insisted on the importance of identifying the reliable sources of information on misinformation in social networks.
Although the communicator stood out as a “good news” that “we are in the peak of the season, and we have nothing” of cyclonic activity in sight, stressed that “we still have two weeks, especially the week of September 20 to 26, which can again increase again.” However, he stated that, “Maybe, they don’t get to the numbers that were originally forecast”.
In early April, the Colorado State University He predicted a “above average” period, with 17 storms with name (sustained wind systems of 39 miles per hour –MPH– or more), of which nine would be hurricanes (74 mph) and four would reach category 3 or more (111 mph).
“I am not the same of eight years ago (when Hurricane Maria hit. There are people who are more delicate health. There are parents who are no longer there. Life is changing, and the way of preparing us is changing”, Emphasized the founder and president of the Board of Directors of the Ecoexploretory.
Look at high temperatures
Another issue that dominated the presentation was the accelerated coastal erosion around Puerto Rico, which impacted many attendees who were amazed by the images and forecasts of the increase in sea level.
“I took that we always have to prepare for the worst, waiting for the best. Erosion on the coast of Puerto Rico worries me a lot”he said Jesús Paredes NegrónMunicipal Employee of Recreation and Sports of Toa Baja.
The residents in Villa Marisol also arrived at the communal center, Carmen Ruiz and María Ojeda, who thanked the encounter because they learned much more about the risks of heat waves and coastal erosion.
“The theme of the sea caught my attention and how every time it is getting little by little, and we are running out of land. There is a lotOjeda shared, 78.
Ruiz, a 70 -year -old community leader, insisted that “more awareness is needed” and thinking about community when taking care of the sewers in their neighborhood, which is vulnerable to flooding.
Another participant, mother of a minor, shared that her daughter suffered in her own flesh the effects of high temperatures in her school, since when collecting her they informed her that she had vomited. He even mentioned that another classmate had to be taken to the hospital due to extreme heat.
Monzón, also a member of the Committee for experts and advisors on climate changequestioned the “lack of action” of the government around Mitigation, adaptation and resilience to climate change for Puerto Ricowhich presented more than 700 proposals, including several initiatives to mitigate high temperatures.
Along the same lines, some of the participants’ questions focused on the impact of the cuts to the National Ocean and Atmospheric National Administration Office (NOAA) and the resistance of the president of the United States, Donald Trumpin recognizing climate change.
“These are important questions. At least, Congress (of the United States) has already recognized that the National Meteorology Service is important and made a” hire back) of employees, so that is good. But there was a time emptiness that perhaps disregarded some things that affected the hurricanes season”, Said Monzón.
“The theme of climate change is manifested in many ways, in health, in food …, but what you see is the beach and how it is being affected by the increase in sea level and all these swell events. That is accelerating,” said Monzón, who recognized the varied profile of participants in Toa Baja.
The next community orientation events by the collaborating meteorologist of The new day They are the October 7, in Caguas; on October 21, in San Juan; and on November 4, in Guaynabo.