fp Turks and Caicos

The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources has procured two Weatherhawk automatic weather stations that have been installed on Providenciales and Grand Turk.

The station on Grand Turk was installed with  the assistance of Turks and Caicos Utilities (TCU).

The station on Providenciales is set up behind the National Environmental Centre (NEC), the seat of office of the DECR which is located at Lower Bight Road, opposite the Children’s Park. Fortis TCI assisted in the installation of the WeatherHawk atop the 100-foot electric pole that it donated.

The recent workshop hosted by the DECR on Water Sector and Climate Change had revealed the paucity of meteorological data, a critical input in modeling. With the acquisition of the WeatherHawk the meteorological information gaps would be addressed accordingly. It will also supply the needed data for the Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation project of the Turks and Caicos Islands government.

The weather stations are capable of logging data 24/7, 365 days a year at a logging frequency as close as 15 minutes (or depending on the setting desired) and transmitting the data to a secured storage devise (computer at the National Environment Centre) using the wireless technology. The operation of the WeatherHawk is powered by a solar panel which means that it does not require electrical supply to maintain its operation.

The weather station can simultaneously record the atmospheric temperature (maximum and minimum), amount of rainfall, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, solar radiation, evapo-transpiration, wind direction, and wind speed. The DECR’s WeatherHawks complement the existing weather stations in TCI such as those installed and operated by the Providenciales International Airport, Turtle Cove Marina, and Regent Grant in Grace Bay. The Department of Agriculture and Environmental Health are also collecting rainfall data.

Some of the data being generated by the WeatherHawk are very important in modeling and forecasting global warming, sea level rise and comfort index, to name a few. The meteorological data can be used by fishermen, students, researchers, tourists and the public in general.
The data is available online at www.anythingweather.com/current.aspx?id=48740, allowing anyone to monitor meteorological information recorded by the WeatherHawk.

DECR Director Wesley Clerveaux thanked Fortis and TCU for their full support to the projects and activities of the DECR. Fortis also supported the Native Plant Biodiversity Nursery and the Bight Park in Providenciales.

What the DECR, Fortis and TCU are doing is a classical example of public-private partnership where the ultimate winners are the public and the environment. Clerveaux said he is keen to cooperate with other corporate entities in TCI to work towards environmental sustainability for the enjoyment and satisfaction of everyone.

Caring the environment is everybody’s responsibility, so please join the DECR in its campaign to make clean and green islands. For more details, please contact the DECR at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit the website: www.environment.tc.

Photo: These WeatherHawk weather stations have been installed on Grand Turk and Providenciales. (Eric F. Salamanca/DECR)