Hurricanes and Anomalous Heat in the Caribbean

Abstract

Co-occurring hazards present unparalleled challenges to development and disaster recovery. In this study, we investigate the relationship between anomalous heat in the aftermath of tropical cyclones in the eastern Caribbean between 1991 and 2020. We analyze the spatial patterns of anomalous heat index (HI) values for 53 tropical storms and hurricanes using a Lagrangian analysis framework. Furthermore, we analyze temporal patterns of 205 city-storms pairings. The spatial patterns displayed distinct and statistically significant areas of anomalously warm conditions regardless of the storm intensity classification. Moreover, all 205 city-storm events had positive HI anomalies following the storms' passage with a maximum of 5°C. The results show that HI anomalies can be high, have a time lag of days, and be observed in locations not directly impacted by the storm. The results have implications for tropical cyclones preparedness, including suggesting that preparedness include informing the public about heat impacts. © 2022. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.