By KRYSTEL ROLLE ~ Guardian Staff Reporter ~ krystel@nasguard.com:


Local meteorologists have confirmed what most Bahamians had already surmised: This is the hottest December in recorded history.

According to meteorologist Arnold King, The Bahamas has been experiencing above average temperatures all month.

King said the average temperature in December is 79.2 degrees Fahrenheit. This year the average has been 83 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, the highest average ever recorded for that month.

In addition, he said the highest temperature ever recorded in December is 86.9 degrees Fahrenheit.

"But this year we have broken that. We've gone up to 88 degrees on a few days," he added.

Julie Nixon is one of many Bahamians who have complained about the heat this winter.

She said she has yet to find an excuse to don her new leather jacket. Even her light jackets have remained in her closet -- collecting dust, she said.

"I was expecting it to be a little cooler. I want to (wear) my black leather jacket. Christmas just isn't Christmas without a little chill," she said.

King said most days the temperature has been above 80 degrees.

"We've had a high pressure ridge sitting over us which prevented cold fronts from moving through The Bahamas," he explained.

And while the weather may have some Bahamians complaining about the heat, it's a problem that Canadian native Emily Jones said she prayed to have.

"This is beautiful weather. I love it here. I can't believe this is what The Bahamas is like in December," she said.

Jones, who's vacationing in New Providence for a week, said she is not looking forward to returning home as the weather is the coldest it has been in years.

She said when she left home it was snowing and "freezing cold."

"I'm just happy to feel the sun," Jones added.

Meanwhile, Bahamian Kendra Brown said she has been forced to leave her air conditioning on all month.

"It's too hot otherwise," she said.

"I've found myself using my pool a little more this month. It's just ridiculously hot. It's December but it still feels like the summer. No wind, no breeze, nothing. It's just hot. As soon as I walk outside, I'm sweating."

Meteorologist Jeffrey Simmons said this year has been extraordinarily hot.

"This is December when it usually cools down. Usually we have cold fronts from the north pole but a lot of fronts are not making it all the way down," he said.

According to Simmons, this is not the first time this has happened in The Bahamas.

"We've had some Decembers when the fronts have been slow to come down. This year the fronts seems to be stalling altogether."

He said most of the cold fronts only make it as far as Central America.

However, he added that one is expected to pass over The Bahamas this weekend.

"So maybe then we'll see a little cooling."

Asked if the uncharacteristic heat had anything to do with the climate change, he said "the jury is still out on that."

"It's not so easy to say exactly what it is," he added.

Simmons said that in the next few months, after more credible analysis is compiled, he will be able to say more.

December 16, 2009

thenassauguardian