During the visit, students learned about the critical role the DMCA plays in coordinating disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts on the island. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of information and education in disaster management, including public awareness campaigns, risk communication, and community engagement initiatives.
The students were also given a tour of the agency, where they gained insight into the day-to-day operations and coordination mechanisms that support national emergency management.
The Simon’s Rock Field Station serves as a hub for service-learning programmes in Montserrat and hosts a cadre of colleges and universities engaged in research and field studies.
The DMCA welcomes opportunities to engage with students and researchers as part of its ongoing commitment to building disaster resilience.
The Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) has erected tsunami warning signs on two beaches today, Wednesday, 18 February 2026, as part of the organization’s Tsunami Awareness Programme.
The new signs were placed at Carr’s Bay Beach on the western coastline and Marguerita Bay on the northeast coastline.
This initiative aims to ensure that Montserrat is tsunami-ready and to raise public awareness about the potentially devastating impacts of tsunamis.
Montserrat is vulnerable to both local, volcanic-induced tsunamis and distant-source tsunamis.
The DMCA urgently warns residents and visitors to recognize natural tsunami warning signs such as severe ground shaking, the ocean suddenly receding, or a loud ocean roar. If any of these occur, act immediately: move to high ground without delay. Do not wait for an official alert; your quick action could save your life.
This is part of Montserrat’s efforts to achieve official UNESCO-IOC “Tsunami Ready” status, aligning with regional standardization of warning signs and evacuation protocols.
Additional tsunami warning signs will be erected at Rendezvous Beach, Woodlands, Bunkum Bay, Lime Kiln Bay, Old’s Bay, Fox’s Bay, Plymouth, and at other locations to further improve public safety and awareness.
key Safety Message: If you hear, see, or feel signs of a tsunami, move immediately to higher ground!
For further information on tsunami preparedness, residents are encouraged to contact the DMCA at 491-7166.
Yellow Hill Road, Montserrat – Montserrat was represented at the recently held Caribbean Regional Workshops on Strengthening Knowledge Exchange and Mutual Understanding and Artificial Intelligence for Forecasting, Climate Services, and Disaster Preparedness, held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, from 20–23 January 2026.
Information and Education Officer at the Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA), Shirlian Queeley, and Meteorology Officer at the John A. Osborne Airport Air Traffic Control Unit, Gerren Gerald, attended the two back-to-back workshops.
Ms. Queeley highlighted Montserrat’s limited weather monitoring capacity, noting that the island currently operates a single weather station primarily supporting aviation. She emphasized the need for additional multi-hazard weather stations to strengthen early warning systems, improve community-level communication, and ensure the timely dissemination of accurate information, particularly during extreme weather events such as flash floods and lahars to help save lives and reduce disaster risk.
Officials from the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO) assured participants that steps are being taken to improve Montserrat’s weather monitoring capabilities. Meteorologists from the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services are expected to visit Montserrat later this year to better understand the island’s unique topography and weather patterns and improve data accuracy. Additionally, an Automatic Weather Station (AWS), funded by the Caribbean and Central America Parametric Insurance Facility (CCRIF SPC), is scheduled for installation this year.
Ms. Queeley noted that the workshops underscored the importance of reducing risk through early warnings that are clearly communicated, trusted, and acted upon, stressing the role of authoritative institutions with legal responsibility in issuing timely and accurate alerts. She added that AI-supported forecasting tools introduced during the sessions have the potential to significantly enhance Montserrat’s forecasting capacity, improve emergency information dissemination, and support informed decision-making to help save lives.
Ms. Gerald stated that the initial sessions highlighted the importance of National Meteorological Services issuing clear, detailed, and impact-focused alerts and warnings, particularly for small island states such as Montserrat. Emphasis was placed on how stronger meteorological products support agencies such as the DMCA and the media in translating technical data into user-friendly, relevant messages that enable the public and authorities to make informed decisions. Participants also examined how timely, well-structured warnings improve inter-agency coordination, strengthen public trust, and enhance community preparedness during adverse weather events.
The subsequent sessions focused on the practical application of AI-supported forecasting software to better assess and communicate the potential impacts of significant weather events across different areas of Montserrat. The training demonstrated how AI tools can support more localized, impact-based forecasting, allowing alerts and warnings to be targeted toward known danger zones and weather-related hotspots on a near-continuous, 24-hour basis. For Montserrat, this approach offers significant potential to improve early warning capabilities, support proactive decision-making, and strengthen island-wide disaster preparedness through precise, location-specific information.
Participation by the DMCA and the John A. Osborne Airport Air Traffic Control Unit underscores both entities’ commitment to innovation, regional collaboration, and resilience-building, as they continue working to better protect lives, livelihoods, and communities across Montserrat.
The workshops brought together regional representatives from National Meteorological and Hydrometeorological Services, Disaster Risk Management Offices, and the media to strengthen collaboration, improve risk communication, and explore how artificial intelligence can support weather forecasting, climate services, and disaster preparedness across the Caribbean.
Yellow Hill Road, Montserrat – The Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) has welcomed the unearthing of the Belham Valley Bridge, describing it as a significant step toward building community resilience for residents of Isle Bay, Woodsville, Corkhill, Weekes, Richmond Hill, Fox’s Bay, and Delvin’s, as well as tour operators, sand miners, farmers, and livestock owners.
That’s according to DMCA Senior Disaster Management Coordinator, Astrid Wade.
Mr. Wade said the project also improves emergency access to Isle Bay Hill and other areas south of the Belham Valley, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
Waterway and roadway work in the Belham Valley have resulted in the bridge being unearthed and accessible for vehicular traffic during heavy rainfall.
Roadways, culverts, and drainage infrastructure along Happy Hill, Dr Wood’s, and Isles Bay Hill Main Roads have also been unearthed, with guttering and culverts cleaned and restored to improve water flow.
The main water channels in the Belham Valley have also been excavated in preparation for rainfall, which should reduce impassability caused by lahars.
The Belham Valley Bridge had been buried for over 20 years due to repeated lahar activity. Its restoration now provides permanent access to and from the northern side of the island, especially during extreme weather events, significantly improving safety for residents of Isle Bay Hill, Woodsville, Corkhill, Weekes, Richmond Hill, Fox’s Bay, and Delvin’s, as well as tour operators, sand miners, farmers, and livestock owners.
The Belham Valley Bridge project was a collaborative effort between the Public Works Department, the Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) and the private sector.
Beyond St George’s Hill Gate, Plymouth, Molyneaux, and past Trants Gate lies Zone V, the Exclusion Zone managed by the Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA).
Daytime entry only — prior permission from the DMCA is required.
Unauthorized entry is subject to prosecution under emergency and disaster-management regulations.
The disturbance, now designated Invest 98L, is expected to bring showers and thunderstorms across Montserrat today and into Monday. ? Rainfall totals for the period could range between 0.5 and 1 inch, with locally higher amounts possible. A Flash Flood Advisory may be required.
This weather system could disrupt normal daily activities. While the risk to life and property remains low, the public is advised to stay vigilant for potential adverse weather conditions and follow the latest forecasts.
Invest 98L, located near the Windward Islands, is moving quickly westward at 20 to 25 mph into the eastern Caribbean Sea. Further development is expected to be limited over the next day or two due to the system’s fast forward motion.
However, the system is forecast to slow down over the central Caribbean Sea by the middle of the week, where environmental conditions could become more favourable for development. A tropical depression could form over the central Caribbean Sea by the middle to latter part of the week.
? Formation Chances:
Next 48 hours: Low (10%)
Next 7 days: Medium (60%)
Residents are urged to stay vigilant, prepared, and informed, and to continue monitoring official DMCA updates as we remain in the hurricane season.
? The DMCA will continue to monitor this system and provide updates as necessary.
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES 9:21 AM, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2025
A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for low-lying and flood-prone areas of Montserrat, valid until 4 p.m. today.
A Flash Flood Watch means that moderate to major flooding is possible but not imminent in the watch area. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.
Residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas should make preparations to safeguard life and property. Be ready to move to higher ground if flooding rains develop or if a Flash Flood Warning is issued.
A persistent trough over the northeastern Caribbean is influencing weather conditions across the area, producing periodic heavy showers and thunderstorms. Radar estimates indicate that over 2 inches of rain have already fallen in some places during the last six hours, with another 2 to 4 inches or more possible in the next 12 hours. As a result, minor flooding of low-lying and flood-prone areas is expected.
The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services will continue to monitor the weather situation and issue updates as necessary.
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES THU, OCT 9, 2025
THIS IS FOR MONTSERRAT
…JERRY EXPECTED TO BE NEAR THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT…
A Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for Montserrat. A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case, within 12 hours.
At 5:00 PM AST (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Jerry was located near latitude 17.3° North, longitude 60.6° West, or about 111 miles east-northeast of Montserrat.
Jerry is moving toward the west-northwest near 18 mph. A turn toward the northwest is expected this evening, followed by a slightly slower northward motion on Friday and Saturday. On the forecast track, the center of Jerry is expected to pass near the northern Leeward Islands this evening and tonight.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 65 mph with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected through tomorrow, but slow strengthening is possible over the weekend.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles, mainly east of the center.
The estimated minimum central pressure is 1001 mb.
Based on the latest observations and analysis, the core of Jerry is expected to pass near or to the north of the northern Leeward Islands later today into Friday, causing gusty conditions mainly in showers.
Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are possible during Jerry’s passage, which could cause minor to moderate flooding, mainly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
Swells generated by Jerry are expected to reach the Leeward Islands this afternoon. These conditions are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents; hence, mariners are strongly advised to remain in port.
Residents should continue preparing for the possibility of storm conditions, and if the watch is upgraded to a warning, be ready to complete preparations quickly.
Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services Thursday, October 9, 2025
This statement is for Montserrat
…Tropical storm conditions possible over portions of the northern Leeward Islands when Jerry passes nearby late Thursday and Thursday night…
A Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for Montserrat. A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions pose a possible threat to the specified area within 48 hours.
At 11:00 AM AST (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Jerry was located near latitude 15.9° North, longitude 59.1° West, or about 215 miles east-southeast of Montserrat.
Jerry is moving toward the west-northwest near 18 mph, and this general motion is expected to continue through today. A turn toward the northwest is expected later today, followed by a slightly slower northward motion Friday and Saturday. On the forecast track, the center of Jerry is expected to pass near or to the northeast of the northern Leeward Islands later today and tonight.
Maximum sustained winds are near 65 mph with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast during the next few days, and Jerry could become a hurricane by late Friday or Saturday.
Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles, mainly east of the center. The estimated minimum central pressure is 999 mb (29.50 inches).
Based on the latest observations and analysis, the core of Jerry is expected to be near or north of the northern Leeward Islands later today into Friday, producing gusty conditions mainly in showers.
Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are possible during the passage of Jerry, which could cause minor to moderate flooding, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
Swells generated by Jerry are expected to reach the Leeward Islands this afternoon. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions; mariners are strongly advised to remain in port.
Residents should continue to monitor the progress of Jerry and be prepared for the possibility of storm conditions.
Repeating the 11:00 AM position: Latitude 15.9°N, Longitude 59.1°W. Movement toward the west-northwest near 18 mph. Maximum sustained winds 65 mph. Minimum central pressure 999 mb.
