Belmopan, July 14, 2026.
Belize has taken another important step toward strengthening its marine meteorological monitoring and early warning capabilities with the handover of three Marine Monitoring Stations to the National Meteorological Service (NMS) of Belize by the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH).
Valued at just over BZ$66,000, the equipment package includes SOFAR Spotter Buoys, floats, moorings, integrated sensors, anchors, and other mooring accessories. Once deployed, the stations will continuously monitor critical marine and atmospheric conditions, including wave characteristics, sea surface temperature, wind, and atmospheric pressure.
The additional monitoring capacity will enhance Belize’s ability to collect real-time marine observations, improve marine weather forecasting, and strengthen early warning systems for hazardous marine conditions. These improvements will support safer navigation, more effective coastal management, strengthened disaster preparedness, and evidence-based decision-making to help protect lives, livelihoods, and Belize’s valuable marine resources.
As part of the initiative, National Meteorological Service personnel and members of other key agencies are receiving technical training on the installation, operation, and maintenance of the equipment. This will be followed by a series of deployment missions to install the monitoring stations at strategic marine locations. Confirmed deployment sites include English Caye and Glover’s Reef, with a third station expected to be installed within the Southern Turneffe Atoll.
The Ministry of Public Service and Disaster Risk Management and the National Meteorological Service express their sincere appreciation to the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, the European Union, the Caribbean Development Bank, and all project partners for their continued commitment to strengthening Belize’s meteorological services and disaster risk management capabilities.
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