Trinidad and Tobago Face Drought Threat: Conservation Urged as Dry Conditions Loom

Trinidad and Tobago are bracing for increasingly dry conditions, as the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) has issued a drought watch for September 2026. A drought warning is expected for Tobago in October, urging citizens to conserve potable water. The dry conditions, projected to extend into the 2027 dry season, could significantly impact agriculture and water supply.

The TTMS Dryness/Drought Monitor and Outlook indicates that reduced and irregular rainfall may pose risks to crops and livestock, with an increased number of hot-spell days and declining soil moisture. This situation threatens the recharge of dams and underground water reserves, potentially reducing the availability of surface water.

The outlook has observed very dry conditions at Crown Point in Tobago and Valencia in Trinidad between May and July 2026. While slightly dry conditions were reported across Central Trinidad and north-east Tobago, south-western Trinidad faced conditions ranging from moderately dry to very dry.

The TTMS anticipates drought warning conditions across Tobago and north-eastern Trinidad by the end of October. The upper Caroni River basin is expected to experience moderately dry conditions, while a drought watch extends from Piarco westwards across the lower Caroni River basin.

Despite periods of heavy rainfall and localized flooding, these conditions do not alleviate the broader drought risk, as long-term assessments are crucial for understanding moisture patterns. Residents are therefore encouraged to practise water conservation as Trinidad and Tobago navigate the final months of 2026.