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.

Discussion

May 2011

Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada were normal, whilst St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica and Antigua were moderately wet; St Kitts and Barbados were abnormally wet. St. Croix was extremely dry and Puerto Rico abnormally dry in the west and moderately dry in the east. Rainfall in Guyana was normal for the month. Conditions in the Dominican Republic ranged from extremely wet in the southwest to normal in the east. Jamaica was normal in the west and below normal in the east. Cayman Islands was extremely dry, whilst conditions in Belize was abnormally dry in the south to extremely dry in the north.

March 2011 to May 2011

The eastern Caribbean was generally normal to above normal for the three month period. Trinidad was normal, and St. Kitts and Anguilla abnormally wet. Tobago, Grenada, Dominica and Antigua were moderately wet. St Lucia was very wet whilst Barbados and St. Vincent were extremely wet. Guyana was abnormally wet in the west and moderately wet in the east. St. Croix was abnormally dry and Puerto Rico moderately dry. The Dominican Republic ranged from very wet in the southwest to abnormally dry in the east; whilst Jamaica was normal in the west and abnormally dry in the east. Cayman Islands was extremely dry and conditions in Belize ranged from abnormally dry in the south to extremely dry in the north.

December 2010 to May 2011

For the six month period, the eastern Caribbean was dominated by normal to above normal rainfall. St. Kitts and Dominica were abnormally wet; Grenada, Antigua and Anguilla moderately wet; and St. Lucia very wet. St. Vincent was extremely wet; Barbados exceptionally wet; and Trinidad moderate to very wet. Conditions in Guyana ranged from normal in the west to moderately wet in the east. St. Croix was exceptionally dry, but Puerto Rico normal for the period. Conditions in the Dominican Republic ranged from extremely wet in the southwest to moderately dry in the east; whilst Jamaica was abnormally dry in the west to normal in the east. Cayman Islands was extremely dry and Belize ranged from moderate to extremely dry from the south to the north.

June 2010 to May 2011

As with the other time intervals, the eastern Caribbean experienced normal to above normal conditions over the twelve month period. Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada were extremely wet, whilst Barbados, St. Vincent and St. Lucia were exceptionally wet. Antigua and St. Kitts were very wet; and Dominica and Anguilla moderately wet. Guyana was generally normal in the west and abnormally wet in the east. Puerto Rico was generally very wet whilst St. Croix was abnormally wet. Conditions in the Dominica Republic ranged from extremely wet in the southwest to abnormally dry in the northeast; and Jamaica extremely wet in the west to moderately wet in the east. Cayman Islands was abnormally dry whilst Belize ranged from normal in the south to severely dry in the north east.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.