The Caribbean Regional Climate Centre
Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology
Husbands
St. James
Barbados BB23006
CONTACT US
P.O. Box 130
Bridgetown
Barbados
Tel : +1 (246) 425 1362/3
Fax: +1 (246) 424 4733
Email: rcc@cimh.edu.bb
SPI Monitor April 2011
/in Climate Monitoring, SPI Monitor /by Wayne DepradineDisclaimer
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.
Discussion
April 2011
The distinction between a dry west and wet east is evident. Barbados and St. Lucia were exceptionally wet and St. Vincent extremely wet. Grenada and Dominica were very wet, whilst Tobago was moderately wet. Trinidad and Antigua were abnormally wet, whilst Anguilla, St Croix and St. Kitts were normal. Guyana was abnormal to moderately wet. Puerto Rico was normal whilst the Dominican Republic was abnormally wet. Jamaica and the Cayman Islands were moderately dry, and conditions in Belize ranged from abnormally wet in the south to extremely dry in the north.
February 2011 to April 2011
As like for April, the three month period showed a clear distinction between a dry western and wet eastern Caribbean. Grenada, Barbados and St. Vincent were exceptionally wet. Dominica was extremely wet; Trinidad and Tobago very wet and Antigua abnormally wet. St. Kitts, St. Croix and Anguilla were all normal. Conditions in Guyana ranged from moderately wet in the west to exceptionally wet in the east. Puerto Rico was normal in the west and abnormally dry in the east whilst the Dominican Republic was normal. Further west, Jamaica was abnormally dry and the Cayman Islands moderately dry. Belize was abnormally wet in the southwest to abnormally dry in the north.
November 2010 to April 2011
For the six month period, St. Vincent was exceptionally wet. Trinidad and St. Lucia were extremely wet; and Tobago, Grenada and Barbados very wet. Dominica was moderately wet , whilst Antigua was abnormally dry. St Kitts was abnormally wet; and Anguilla and St. Croix normal. Conditions in Guyana ranged from normal in the west to very wet in the east. Puerto Rico was normal to abnormally wet and the Dominican Republic normal. Further to the west, Jamaica’s conditions ranged from moderately dry in the west to abnormally wet in the east. Cayman Islands was extremely dry and Belize moderately dry.
May 2010 to April 2011
The region was generally wet over the twelve month period. Tobago, Barbados, St. Vincent and St. Lucia were all exceptionally wet. Grenada was extremely wet, whilst Dominica, Antigua and St. Kitts were very wet. St. Croix was moderately wet and Anguilla abnormally wet. Conditions in Guyana ranged from abnormally wet in the west to very wet in the east. Puerto Rico was exceptionally wet; and the Dominica Republic abnormal to moderately wet. Jamaica experienced very to extremely wet conditions. Cayman Islands was normal whilst conditions in Belize ranged from very wet in the south to normal in the north.
SPI Monitor March 2011
/in Climate Monitoring, SPI Monitor /by Wayne DepradineDisclaimer
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.
Discussion
March 2011
The eastern portion of the chain was predominantly normal to wet apart from Barbados that was abnormally dry. Trinidad, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Anguilla were normal. Antigua was abnormally wet, whilst Tobago and Grenada were moderately wet. St. Vincent and Dominica were both very wet. Guyana was extremely to exceptionally wet. Puerto Rico had normal rainfall, but conditions in the Dominican Republic ranged from normal in the west to moderately dry in the east. Jamaica was moderately wet and Cayman Islands and Belize normal.
January 2011 to March 2011
Apart from Anguilla that was abnormally dry, the eastern portion of the chain was normal to wet for the three month period. Trinidad was extremely to exceptionally wet whilst Tobago, Grenada and St. Vincent were extremely wet. Barbados experienced abnormally wet conditions, whilst Dominica was moderately wet. Conditions in St. Lucia and Antigua were normal, and St. Kitts and Anguilla abnormally dry. Conditions in Guyana ranged from Moderate to exceptionally wet. Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica were normal for the period. Cayman Islands and Belize were moderately dry.
October 2010 to March 2011
For the six month period, the eastern Caribbean was divided into a normal north (apart from St. Kitts that was moderately wet) and a wetter than normal south. Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada were moderately wet. Barbados and St. Vincent were extremely wet, whilst St. Lucia was exceptionally wet. Dominica, Antigua and Anguilla were normal. Conditions in Guyana ranged from moderately wet in the west to exceptionally wet in the east. Puerto Rico was abnormally wet to moderately wet, but in the Dominican Republic the conditions varied from normal to moderately dry. Jamaica was normal and Cayman Islands moderately dry. Conditions in Belize ranged from normal to moderately dry.
April 2010 to March 2011
For the twelve month period there were no drier than normal areas of the Caribbean. Trinidad, Tobago, Barbados, St. Vincent and St. Lucia were exceptionally wet. Grenada was extremely wet and Dominica, St. Kitts and Antigua very wet. Conditions in Anguilla were abnormally wet. Conditions in Guyana ranged from abnormally wet in the west to extremely wet in the east. Puerto Rico was extremely to exceptionally wet. Apart from an area in the southwest of the country that was abnormally to moderately wet, the Dominican Republic was normal. Jamaica was moderately wet and Cayman Islands normal. Conditions in Belize ranged from extremely wet in the south to normal in the north.
SPI Monitor February 2011
/in Climate Monitoring, SPI Monitor /by Wayne DepradineDisclaimer
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.
Discussion
February 2011
In the eastern Caribbean, there is a bit of a contrast between the south and the north, with the south being above normal and the further north being normal to moderately dry. In the south, Trinidad and Guyana were extreme to exceptionally wet, Grenada exceptionally wet, and St. Vincent, Tobago and Barbados were moderate to very wet. St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua and Anguilla were normal. However, St. Kitts was moderately dry. Puerto Rico was normal to abnormally wet, whilst the Dominican Republic was abnormal to moderately wet. Further west, Jamaica was normal and the Cayman Islands moderately dry. Conditions in Belize ranged from moderately wet in the southwest to normal in the north.
December 2010 to February 2011
The distinction in rainfall between the wetter-than-normal eastern and drier-than-normal western Caribbean was evident. There was also some distinction in the eastern Caribbean itself, with the south being above normal and the north being predominantly normal. Trinidad and Tobago were very to extremely wet. Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia and Barbados moderately wet. Dominica, Antigua and Anguilla were all normal, whilst St. Kitts was abnormally wet. Guyana was normal in the west to moderately wet in the east. Puerto Rico was normal to abnormally wet, but the Dominican Republic was normal in the west to moderately dry in the east. Conditions in Jamaica ranged from moderately dry in the west to moderately wet in the east. Cayman Islands was extremely dry, whilst in Belize conditions ranged from abnormally dry in the south to extremely dry in the north.
September 2010 to February 2011
For the six month period, in the eastern Caribbean, St. Vincent and St. Lucia were exceptionally wet. Grenada and Barbados were extremely wet, whilst Tobago and St. Kitts were moderately wet. Antigua and Anguilla were normal whilst Dominica was abnormally dry. Trinidad was very to extremely wet. Guyana was normal in the north to moderately wet further south. Puerto Rico was moderate to very wet, whilst the Dominican Republic was normal to moderately dry. Jamaica was moderately wet in the west to extremely wet in the east. Cayman Islands was normal. Conditions in Belize ranged from abnormally wet to moderately dry.
March 2010 to February 2011
During this period, the eastern Caribbean was predominantly wetter than normal. Tobago, Barbados, St. Vincent and St. Lucia were exceptionally wet whilst Grenada was extremely wet.
SPI Monitor January 2011
/in Climate Monitoring, SPI Monitor /by Wayne DepradineDisclaimer
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.
Discussion
January 2011
There is a marked difference between the Leeward Islands and the Greater Antilles, and the remainder of the eastern Caribbean. The remainder of the eastern Caribbean showed no signs of below normal rainfall. Trinidad and Tobago was extremely to exceptionally wet. Grenada, Barbados and Dominica were very wet, whilst St. Lucia was moderately wet and St. Vincent abnormally wet. In the Leewards, St. Kitts was normal, whilst Antigua was severely dry and Anguilla exceptionally dry. Guyana was normal. Conditions in the Dominican Republic ranged from normal in the west to severely dry in the east. Jamaica was moderately dry in the west and abnormally dry in the east, whilst the Cayman Islands was extremely dry. Conditions in Belize ranged from normal in the south to extremely dry in the northeast.
November 2010 to January 2011
For the three month period, the eastern Caribbean south of Dominica showed no signs of dryness. Trinidad was extremely wet and Tobago moderately wet. St. Lucia and St. Vincent were very wet, whilst Barbados was abnormally wet and Grenada normal. Dominica and Anguilla were abnormally dry, and St. Kitts and Antigua were moderately dry. Guyana was normal. Conditions in the Dominican Republic ranged from normal in the west to severely dry in the east, whilst in Jamaica the range was from moderately dry in the west to abnormally wet in the east. The Cayman Islands was extremely wet. Conditions in Belize were abnormally to moderately dry.
August 2010 to January 2011
Apart from Dominica that was abnormally dry, the eastern Caribbean was generally normal to above normal. Barbados, St. Vincent and St. Lucia were exceptionally wet, whilst Grenada was very wet. Tobago, St. Kitts and Antigua were moderately wet and Anguilla abnormally wet. Trinidad was very to extremely wet. Guyana was abnormally to moderately wet, and the Dominican Republic normal to abnormally dry. Jamaica was severely wet and the Cayman Islands normal. Conditions in Belize generally ranged from normal to moderately dry.
February 2010 to January 2011
There were no dry areas in the Caribbean for the 12 month period. Tobago, St. Vincent and St. Kitts were exceptionally wet. Barbados and St. Lucia were extremely wet, whilst Grenada, Dominica and Antigua were moderately wet. Anguilla, Guyana and the Dominican Republic were abnormally wet. Jamaica was very wet and the Cayman Islands normal. Belize was predominantly normal to abnormally wet.
SPI Monitor December 2010
/in Climate Monitoring, SPI Monitor /by Wayne DepradineDisclaimer
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.
Discussion
December 2010
The majority of the eastern Caribbean, including Guyana, was near normal. The exceptions to this were Barbados that was moderately wet and St Kitts that was very wet. Conditions in the Dominican Republic ranged from normal in the west to severely dry in the east, whilst Jamaica was normal in the west to very wet in the east. Cayman Islands was normal, whilst Belize was moderately dry in the south and normal in the north.
October 2009 to December 2010
For the three month period, conditions in the eastern Caribbean were varied. Trinidad, Grenada, Antigua and Anguilla were normal; whilst Barbados, St. Vincent and St. Kitts were very wet and Dominica moderately dry. St. Lucia was extremely wet. Guyana, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Cayman islands and Belize were all normal.
July 2009 to December 2010
As with the three month period, conditions in the eastern Caribbean were varied for this period. Dominica and Anguilla were normal; whilst Grenada and Antigua were moderately wet, and Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia and St. Kitts extremely wet. Trinidad was moderately wet in the west and normal in the east. Guyana was predominantly normal apart from the eastern and western outskirts that were moderately wet; so too was the Dominican Republic apart from the southern perimeter. Jamaica was very wet in the west and moderately wet in the east, whilst Cayman Islands was normal. Belize was predominantly normal.
January 2009 to December 2010
Even though the year began with severe drought conditions in the eastern Caribbean and Guyana particularly, Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia and St. Kitts ended up extremely wet for the year. Dominica and Antigua were moderately wet, whilst Grenada and Anguilla were normal. Trinidad was moderately wet in the west and normal in the east. Guyana, the Dominican Republic and Cayman Islands were normal for the year. Jamaica was very wet in the west and moderately wet in the east, whilst Belize was predominantly normal.
SPI Monitor November 2010
/in Climate Monitoring, SPI Monitor /by Wayne DepradineDisclaimer
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.
Discussion
November 2010
The majority of the Eastern Caribbean chain was near normal. However, both St. Vincent and St. Lucia were moderately wet and Antigua was moderately dry. Conditions in Trinidad ranged from normal to moderately wet and Guyana was generally normal except in the east that was moderately wet. The Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Belize were normal, whilst the Cayman Islands was moderately dry
September 2009 to November 2010
For the three month period, Grenada and Barbados were very wet, whilst St. Vincent and St. Lucia were extremely wet. Dominica, Antigua and Anguilla were normal, whilst St. Kitts was moderately wet. As in the November, conditions in Trinidad and Guyana ranged from normal to moderately wet. Conditions in the Dominican Republic, Cayman Islands and Belize were normal. Jamaica was very wet in the west and moderately wet in the east.
June 2009 to November 2010
In the eastern Caribbean, Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia and St. Kitts were extremely wet for the six month period. Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Anguilla were moderately wet. Conditions in Trinidad and Guyana as well as the Dominican Republic ranged from normal to moderately wet. In Jamaica, conditions ranged from extremely wet in the west to normal in the east, whilst Cayman Islands was normal. In Belize rainfall ranged from normal in the north to very wet in the south.
December 2009 to November 2010
Grenada, Dominica and Anguilla were normal whilst St. Vincent and Barbados were very wet. St Lucia and St. Kitts were extremely wet, whilst Antigua was moderately wet. Conditions in Trinidad ranged from normal to moderately wet. Both Guyana and the Dominican Republic were normal. Jamaica was very wet, but Cayman Islands was normal. Apart from the northern and southern extremities that were moderately wet, Belize was normal.
SPI Monitor October 2010
/in Climate Monitoring, SPI Monitor /by Wayne DepradineDisclaimer
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.
Discussion
October 2010
Rainfall was very varied over the Caribbean for the month of October. Trinidad varied from normal to moderately dry, whilst Tobago and Grenada were normal. Both Barbados and St. Lucia were extremely wet, due mainly to the passage of Hurricane Tomas. Dominica was normal, whilst St. Vincent (also impacted by Hurricane Tomas), Antigua and Anguilla were moderately wet. Rainfall in Guyana was normal for the month. In the Dominican Republic conditions were predominantly normal apart from a zone in the north east of the country that was moderately dry. Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Belize were normal.
August 2009 to October 2010
As for the October rainfall, the 3 month period was mixed across the Caribbean. Trinidad was normal in the east and moderately wet in the west, whilst Tobago was normal. Grenada was very wet whilst Barbados, St. Vincent and St. Lucia were extremely wet. Dominica was normal. Antigua and St. Kitts were very wet whilst Anguilla was moderately wet. Both Guyana and the Dominican Republic were normal. Conditions in Jamaica ranged from extremely wet in the west to moderately wet in the east. Cayman Islands was moderately wet whilst Belize was predominantly normal.
May 2009 to October 2010
For the 6 month period, Trinidad was very wet in the south and extremely wet in the north. Tobago was extremely wet. Grenada was very wet but Barbados, St. Vncent and St. Lucia were extremely wet. Dominica was moderately to very wet whilst St. Kitts was extremely wet, Antigua very wet and Anguilla moderately wet. Guyana was normal. The Dominican Republic was predominantly normal with areas to the far south being moderately wet. Conditions in Jamaica ranged from extremely wet in the west to moderately wet in the east. Cayman Islands was normal whilst conditions in Belize were predominantly moderately wet with an area to the south being very wet.
November 2009 to October 2010
Both Trinidad and Grenada were normal for the period whilst Tobago was moderately wet. Barbados, St. Vincent and St. Lucia were very wet. Dominica, Antigua and Anguilla were moderately wet, but St. Kitts was very wet. Both Guyana and the Dominican Republic were normal. Predominantly, Jamaica was very wet. Cayman Islands was normal whilst Belize was predominantly normal apart from an area in the south that was moderately wet.
SPI Monitor September 2010
/in Climate Monitoring, SPI Monitor /by Wayne DepradineDisclaimer
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.
Discussion
September 2010
From St. Lucia northward to Anguilla, as well as Tobago and Barbados were all near normal in September. St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada were extremely wet. Trinidad was extremely wet in the west and very wet in the east. Both Guyana and the Dominican Republic were near normal. Jamaica was extremely wet in the west and very wet in the east. Cayman Islands was very wet whilst conditions in Belize ranged from extremely wet in the south to near normal in the north
July 2009 to September 2010
In the eastern Caribbean, Tobago and St. Lucia were near normal for the 3 month period. Grenada and Anguilla were moderately wet, whilst Barbados, Dominica, Antigua and St. Kitts were very wet. St. Vincent was extremely wet. Trinidad was extremely wet in the west and very wet in the east, whilst Guyana was near normal in the west and moderately wet in the east. Apart from a portion of the country in the west that was near normal, the Dominican Republic was moderately wet. Conditions in Jamaica ranged from extremely wet in the west to moderately wet in the east. Cayman Islands was moderately wet, and so too was Belize except for a small area near the centre of the country that was near normal.
April 2009 to September 2010
For the period April to September, 2010, Grenada and Anguilla were moderately wet whilst Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and St. Kitts were very wet. Tobago, St. Vincent and Dominica were extremely wet. Trinidad was very wet in the southwest and extremely wet in the northeast, whilst Guyana was predominantly near normal but becoming moderately wet in the eastern extremes. Apart from a small area of the country in the east that was moderately wet, Dominican Republic was near normal. Jamaica was extremely wet in the west and very wet in the east. Cayman Islands was near normal whilst Belize was extremely wet in the south and very wet in the north.
October 2009 to September 2010
For the 12 month period, the majority of the islands of the Caribbean and Guyana had near normal rainfall totals. Grenada was moderately dry, whilst Dominica and St. Kitts were moderately wet. The Dominican Republic was also normal. Jamaica was very wet to the west and moderately wet to the east. Cayman Islands was moderately wet. Conditions in Belize ranged from near normal in the south west to extremely wet in the north.
SPI Monitor August 2010
/in Climate Monitoring, SPI Monitor /by Wayne DepradineDisclaimer
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.
Discussion
August 2010
Conditions in the eastern Caribbean were mixed for the month of August. Trinidad shared very wet to extremely wet conditions. Tobago, Barbados and Grenada were normal. St. Vincent, Dominica and Anguilla were very wet, whilst Antigua and St. Kitts were extremely wet. Guyana was moderately wet to the west to normal in the east. The Dominican Republic was normal (positive normal to the west and negative normal to the east). Apart from the western portion of the island that was moderately wet, Jamaica generally experienced normal conditions. Cayman Islands was normal whilst Belize was moderately wet in the south and normal to the north.
June 2009 to August 2010
In the eastern Caribbean, Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia and Anguilla were very wet during this three month period. Dominica, Antigua and St. Kitts were extremely wet. In the south of the chain, Trinidad and Tobago were moderately wet, whilst Grenada was normal. Guyana was also normal. Generally the north of Dominican Republic was moderately wet whilst the remainder was very wet. Conditions in Jamaica ranged from extremely wet in the west to normal in the east. Cayman Islands was normal whilst in Belize conditions ranged from normal to extremely wet in the south.
March 2009 to August 2010
During the six month period; Tobago, St. Vincent, Dominica, Antigua and St. Kitts all experienced extremely wet conditions, whilst Trinidad was very wet in the western outskirts of the island and extremely wet elsewhere. Barbados, St. Lucia and Anguilla were moderately wet, whilst Grenada was normal. Guyana was also normal. The Dominican Republic and Cayman Islands were normal. Conditions in Jamaica ranged from extremely wet in the west to normal in the east. Central Belize was moderately wet but very wet elsewhere.
September 2009 to August 2010
Grenada experienced extremely dry conditions for the twelve month period. Trinidad, Tobago, Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia and Antigua were all normal. Dominica and St. Kitts were moderately wet. Guyana, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cayman Islands were all normal. In Belize, conditions ranged from extremely wet in the north to normal in the south.
SPI Monitor July 2010
/in Climate Monitoring, SPI Monitor /by Wayne DepradineDisclaimer
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.
Discussion
July 2010
Grenada, Trinidad, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda were all near normal. Tobago, Barbados and Anguilla were moderately wet, whilst Dominica was very wet and St. Kitts extremely wet. Guyana ranged from normal to the west to very wet in the east. The Dominican Republic was extremely wet. Further west, conditions ranged from extremely wet in the west to near normal in the east. The Cayman Islands was near normal, whilst conditions in Belize were near normal in the west becoming very wet to the north east and south east.
May 2009 to July 2010
For the 3 month period, Guyana, Trinidad and Grenada to the south of the chain, and Antigua and Barbuda and Anguilla to the north were all near normal. St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica were moderately wet. Barbados, St. Lucia and St. Kitts were very wet, whilst Tobago was extremely wet. Apart from the eastern portion that was very wet, the majority of the Dominican Republic was moderately wet. Conditions in Jamaica for the period ranged from extremely wet in the west to moderately wet in the east. The Cayman Islands was near normal, whilst Belize was moderately wet in the west and very wet elsewhere.
February 2009 to July 2009
From Guyana to Grenada along with St. Lucia and Anguilla were near normal. Barbados, St. Vincent and Antigua were moderately wet, whilst Dominica and St. Kitts were very wet. Tobago was extremely wet for the six month period. Apart from the eastern portion that was moderately wet, Dominican Republic was near normal. Jamaica was very wet in the west and moderately wet in the east. Cayman Islands was near normal whilst, apart from the northern tip that was very wet, conditions in Belize were predominantly moderately wet.
August 2009 to July 2010
The twelve month period was extremely dry in Grenada, whilst the remainder of the southern portion of the chain from Guyana to Anguilla were normal. The Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cayman Islands were all normal for the period, whilst in Belize conditions were moderately dry in the south west to very wet in the north east.
The maps produced used SPI values calculated from monthly rainfall totals from land stations and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data. Only land station data is used for the eastern Caribbean , described here as from Georgetown Guyana in the south to Anguilla in the north. The Greater (and Western) Antilles is less represented by land stations. However efforts are being made to include more land stations from that part of the region. Note that the severity implied by the index is relative to what is normal for that period of consideration. Normal in the drier season reflects less rainfall than in the wetter season.