A recent study attributes human-induced climate change to a severe drought affecting the Caribbean since May 2026. World Weather Attribution researchers found that rising global temperatures reduced early wet season rainfall (May-July) by approximately 6% in Jamaica and 9% in Puerto Rico.
This reduction in rainfall makes extreme dry spells 40% more likely in Jamaica and 30% more likely in Puerto Rico compared to the pre-industrial climate. The drought has led to critically depleted reservoirs in Puerto Rico, resulting in 48-hour water rationing for 180,000 customers. Jamaica has implemented strict water prohibition in seven parishes.
Source: Mongabay