Extreme Weather Across the Caribbean and Southeastern United States: Flooding, Dust, and Developing Storm Systems

Communities from Central America to the Carolinas are facing multiple threats at once. A strong earthquake recently shook Trinidad, highlighting the region’s seismic risks, while heavy rains across Central America have caused severe flooding, damaging roads and forcing families to evacuate. At the same time, a dense plume of Saharan dust has spread across the skies, worsening air quality and putting additional pressure on health services already dealing with flood-related problems. Meanwhile, warm Atlantic waters are fueling developing tropical systems, prompting authorities across the Caribbean and the southeastern United States to prepare evacuation plans and urge residents to stay alert as they monitor potential storms.