May 2020

Rainfall in the eastern Caribbean was predominantly below normal during the month of May. Trinidad was normal in the south to severely dry in the northeast; Tobago, St Vincent, Antigua and St Croix moderately dry; Grenada slightly dry; Barbados slight to moderately dry; Saint Lucia, St Maarten and St Thomas extremely dry; Martinique moderately dry in the south to extremely dry in the north; Dominica and Guadeloupe severe to extremely dry and St Kitts severely dry. In the Guianas conditions ranged from moderately dry in north-eastern Suriname and southeast French Guiana to exceptionally wet in north-eastern French Guiana, and to extremely wet in southern Guyana. Curacao was slight to moderately dry and Aruba severely dry. Puerto Rico ranged from slightly dry in the west to extremely dry in the northeast. Hispaniola ranged from exceptionally dry in the extreme south to slightly wet in the north. Jamaica ranged from extremely dry in the extreme west to slightly wet in the northwest, to slightly dry in the northeast and to normal in the extreme east. Grand Cayman was normal. Cuba ranged from exceptionally wet in the west to normal in the east. Northern Bahamas ranged from very to exceptionally wet, and Belize from exceptionally wet in central areas to moderately wet in the south and normal in the west and northern areas.

March to May 2020

Over the three month period, normal to below normal rainfall prevailed throughout the eastern Caribbean. Trinidad ranged from slightly dry in the southeast to exceptionally dry in the northwest; Tobago slight to severely dry; Grenada slightly dry to normal; Barbados, St. Vincent and Dominica moderate to severely dry; St Kitts and St Maarten moderately dry; Saint Lucia exceptionally dry; Martinique exceptionally dry in the south to severely dry in the north; Guadeloupe normal in the west to severely dry in the east; Antigua and St Thomas slightly dry; St Croix normal. In the Guianas, conditions ranged from extremely dry in northern Guyana to, moderately dry in northeast central Suriname.  to exceptionally wet in northeast French Guiana. Aruba was extreme to exceptionally dry and Curacao normal. Puerto Rico ranged from moderately dry in the south to normal in the north. Hispaniola ranged from exceptionally dry in a small area of southern Dominican Republic to normal in the north and eastern areas. Jamaica ranged from extremely dry in the west, to slightly dry in the east and normal in the north. Grand Cayman was moderate to severely dry. Cuba ranged from moderately wet in the west to moderately dry in the east. Northern Bahamas ranged from moderate to exceptionally wet, and Belize from exceptionally wet in central areas to normal in the south and moderately dry in western and northern areas.

December 2019 to May 2020

Rainfall over the six month period was predominantly normal to below normal with a few areas which were above normal. Trinidad ranged from moderately dry in the west to normal in the extreme northeast; Tobago normal to slightly dry; Grenada, Antigua, St Maarten and St Thomas normal; Barbados severe to extremely dry;  St Vincent severely dry; Saint Lucia extremely dry; Martinique severely dry in the south to slightly dry in the north; Dominica very wet in the west to normal in the east; Guadeloupe slightly wet in the west to extremely dry in the east; St Kitts slightly wet to normal, and St Croix slightly dry. In the Guianas, conditions ranged from normal to extremely dry in northern Guyana, and to moderately wet in north-eastern French Guiana. Aruba was moderately dry and Curacao normal. Puerto Rico ranged from exceptionally dry in the extreme southwest to extremely wet in the northeast. Hispaniola ranged from moderately wet in the north to exceptionally dry in south-eastern Dominican Republic and to extremely dry in south-western Haiti. Jamaica ranged from slightly dry in the south, east and west to normal elsewhere, whereas Grand Cayman was moderately dry. Cuba was predominantly dry with west central areas being slightly dry, and areas to the east being slight to moderately dry. Northern Bahamas ranged from slightly to exceptionally wet. Belize ranged from extremely wet in central areas to moderately dry in the west and normal in the north and south.

June 2019 to May 2020

Over the twelve month period, rainfall was normal to below normal throughout the eastern Caribbean. Trinidad ranged from severely dry in the southeast to exceptionally dry in northwest; Tobago normal to moderately dry; Grenada slight to moderately dry; Barbados and St Vincent exceptional to extremely dry; Saint Lucia exceptionally dry; Martinique severe to moderately dry; Dominica slightly dry to normal; Guadeloupe normal in the west to exceptionally dry in the east; Antigua, St Kitts, St Maarten Anguilla and St Thomas normal; St Croix extreme to severely dry. In the Guianas ,  conditions ranged from moderately dry in northern Guyana to moderately wet in north-central Guyana and French Guiana. Aruba and Curacao were moderately dry. Puerto Rico ranged from extremely dry in the south-western tip to moderately wet in the northeast. Hispaniola ranged from exceptionally dry in central Dominican Republic to slightly dry in the extreme east and extremely dry in south-western Haiti. Jamaica ranged from normal in central areas to moderately dry in the west and east. Grand Cayman was exceptionally dry. Cuba ranged from normal in central, western and eastern areas to moderately dry in west-central areas and to moderately wet in the northeast. Northern Bahamas ranged from extremely wet to extremely dry, and Belize from normal in the south to extremely dry in the west and north.

June 2018 to May 2020

Rainfall in the eastern Caribbean over the two year period was predominantly normal to below normal. Trinidad was slightly dry in the southeast to exceptionally dry in the northwest; Tobago severe to extremely dry; Grenada slightly dry; Barbados and Saint Lucia exceptionally dry; St Vincent extreme to exceptionally dry; Martinique exceptional to moderately dry south to north; Dominica severe to slightly dry; Guadeloupe normal to exceptionally dry from west to east; Antigua normal to slightly dry; St Kitts slight to moderately dry; St Maarten moderately dry; St Croix moderate to severely dry, and St. Thomas normal. In the Guianas, conditions were predominantly normal ranging to exceptionally dry in northern Guyana, very wet in central Guyana and moderately wet in Southern Guyana ND north and western Suriname. Aruba was moderate to severely dry and Curacao moderately dry. Puerto Rico ranged from severely dry in the extreme south west to normal in the east. Hispaniola was mostly exceptionally dry, ranging to moderately dry in the north. Jamaica ranged from normal in central areas to slightly dry in the west and exceptionally dry in the east. Grand Cayman was exceptionally dry. Cuba ranged from normal in the west to exceptionally dry in the east. Northern Bahamas ranged from moderately wet to extremely dry, and Belize from slightly dry in central areas to normal in the south and exceptionally dry in the western border and north.

Disclaimer

The information contained herein is provided with the understanding that The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology makes no warranties, either expressed or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability of the Outlook. The information may be used freely by the public with appropriate acknowledgement of its source, but shall not be modified in content and then presented as original material.