SPI Monitor September 2011

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 2011

This month the conditions in the Caribbean were closer to near-normal, with a few exceptions. In the eastern Caribbean, Tobago, St. Lucia and Antigua were near-normal; St. Vincent, Barbados, St. Kitts and Anguilla moderately wet; Grenada very wet ; St. Croix moderately dry; Dominica normal to abnormally dry; and Trinidad and Puerto Rico normal to moderately wet. From west to east in Guyana, conditions ranged from normal to moderately dry. Conditions in the Dominican Republic ranged from moderately dry in the west becoming normal toward the north, east and south. Further to the west, Jamaica was generally near-normal and Cayman Islands moderately dry. In Belize, the south and north of the country were wetter: up to moderate to very wet conditions. The remainder of Belize was near-normal.

July 2011 to September 2011

Apart from Tobago that was moderately dry and Trinidad normal, the eastern Caribbean had above normal rainfall for the three month period. Grenada and Barbados were abnormally wet; St. Vincent extremely wet; St. Vincent, Antigua, St. Kitts and Anguilla extremely wet, and St. Lucia and St. Croix moderately wet. Conditions in Guyana ranged from normal in the west to moderately dry in the east. Puerto Rico was exceptionally wet, whilst conditions in the Dominican Republic ranged from normal in the west to very wet in the east. Jamaica experienced very wet conditions in the extreme west but this changed to normal toward the east. Cayman Islands was normal, but in Belize the rainfall experienced ranged from normal in the south to moderately wet in the north.

April 2011 to September 2011

For the six month period, there was a clear distinction between the north and south of the eastern Caribbean. In the south, Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada were normal. However, Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua and Anguilla were all extremely wet. St. Kitts was very wet, whilst St. Croix was abnormally wet. Conditions ranged from normal in the west to severely dry in the east. Contrastingly, Puerto Rico was exceptionally wet. Both the Dominican Republic and Jamaica were largely moderately wet. Cayman Islands was severely dry and Belize normal.

October 2010 to September 2011

Rainfall in the eastern Caribbean islands was above normal for the twelve month period. Trinidad, Anguilla and St Croix were moderately wet; Tobago abnormally wet; Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and St. Kitts very wet; and Barbados and St. Lucia extremely wet. Guyana was predominantly normal. Puerto Rico rainfall was extreme to exceptionally wet, whilst the conditions in the Dominican Republic ranged from normal in the north to moderately wet in the south west. Jamaica was predominantly abnormally wet, but in the west there were areas of normal rainfall. Cayman Islands was extremely dry, but Belize was normal in the south and below normal in the north.

SPI Monitor August 2011

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

August 2011

There was a distinction between the northern and southern portions of the eastern chain. In the south, Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada were moderately dry. Further north Barbados was normal; St. Vincent and St. Lucia moderately wet; St. Croix very wet; Dominica, St. Kitts and Anguilla extremely wet; and Antigua exceptionally wet. Apart from the eastern portion of the country that was abnormally dry, Guyana was predominantly normal. Puerto Rico was exceptionally wet whilst the Dominican Republic was predominantly normal, apart from the eastern portion that was abnormal to moderately wet. Further west, Jamaica was moderately wet in the west and abnormally wet in the east; Cayman Islands and Belize normal.

June 2011 to August 2011

There was again the distinction between the north and south of the eastern chain during this three month period. Trinidad was abnormally to moderately dry; Tobago and Grenada abnormally dry; and Barbados normal. St. Vincent was moderately wet; St. Lucia very wet; Dominica and St. Kitts extremely wet; and Antigua and St. Croix exceptionally wet. Conditions in Guyana range from normal to exceptionally dry. Puerto Rico was exceptionally wet whilst conditions in the Dominican Republic ranged from abnormally wet in the west to exceptionally wet in the east. Jamaica was extremely wet in the west and exceptionally wet in the east and Cayman Islands was normal. Conditions in Belize ranged from normal in the south to moderately wet in the northeast.

March 2011 to August 2011

In the eastern Caribbean, conditions in Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada were normal; Barbados, St. Kitts, Anguilla and St. Croix very wet; St. Vincent, St. Lucia and Antigua extremely wet; and Dominica exceptionally wet. Guyana was normal. Puerto Rico was extremely wet whilst the Dominican Republic was moderately wet apart from the extreme western portion that was very wet. Jamaica was moderately wet in the west and very wet in the east; Cayman Islands moderately dry and Belize normal.

September 2010 to August 2011

Trinidad abnormal to moderately wet Tobago was moderately wet; Grenada and St. Kitts very wet; Barbados, St. Vincent and St. Lucia exceptionally wet; Dominica extremely wet; Antigua, Anguilla and St. Croix moderately wet. Guyana abnormally wet except for the northern tip that was normal. Puerto Rico was exceptionally wet whilst conditions in the Dominican Republic ranged from normal to moderately wet. Conditions in Jamaica ranged from moderately wet in the west to extremely wet in the east. Cayman Islands was abnormally dry and Belize normal in the south to moderately dry in the north.

SPI Monitor July 2011

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 2011

Normal to above normal conditions were experienced in the eastern Caribbean during July. Tobago and Grenada were normal, but Trinidad was normal to abnormally wet. St. Vincent and Barbados were moderately wet; Antigua and Anguilla very wet; St. Lucia, St. Kitts and St. Croix extremely wet; and Dominica exceptionally wet. Conditions in Guyana ranged from normal in the west to moderately dry in the east. Puerto Rico was extremely wet; whilst conditions in the Dominican Republic ranged from moderately wet in the west to extremely wet in the east. Jamaica was very to extremely wet and Cayman abnormally wet. Belize was normal in the south to moderately wet in the north.

May 2011 to July 2011

As with July, the eastern Caribbean experienced normal to above normal conditions. Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada were normal; Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Anguilla and St. Croix moderately wet; and Dominica and Antigua very wet. Conditions experienced in Guyana were normal in the west to severely dry in the east. Puerto Rico was very wet. Rainfall experienced in the Dominican Republic was from extremely wet in the west to moderately wet in the east. Jamaica was very wet in the west and extremely wet in the east, but Cayman Islands was moderately dry. Belize was normal for the period.

February 2011 to July 2011

For the six month period the eastern Caribbean was above normal. Trinidad and St. Croix were abnormally wet; Tobago, Grenada, St. Kitts and Antigua moderately wet; St. Lucia very wet; Barbados and St. Vincent extremely wet; and Dominica exceptionally wet. Conditions in Guyana ranged from normal in the west to moderately wet in the east. Puerto Rico was moderately wet. The Dominican Republic was very wet in the west and moderately wet elsewhere. Jamaica was moderately wet in the west and very wet in the east; but Cayman Islands was severely dry. Belize was normal.

August 2010  to July 2011

Rainfall for the eastern Caribbean was above normal for the twelve month period. Trinidad, Tobago and Anguilla were moderately wet; Grenada and Dominica extremely wet; Barbados, St. Vincent and St. Lucia exceptionally wet; Antigua and St. Kitts very wet; and St. Croix abnormally wet. Apart from the north that was normal, Guyana was predominantly abnormally wet. Puerto Rico was extremely wet, whilst the Dominican Republic the was moderately wet in the west to normal in the east. Jamaica was very wet in the west and extremely wet in the east; but Cayman Islands was moderately dry.

SPI Monitor June 2011

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

June 2011

Apart from Barbados, Antigua and Anguilla that experienced abnormally wet conditions, St. Croix that was extremely wet and St. Kitts that was abnormally dry, rainfall for the month was predominantly normal in the eastern Caribbean chain. Conditions in Guyana ranged from normal in the west to extremely dry in the east. In Puerto it was extremely to exceptionally wet, whilst the Dominican Republic was abnormally to moderately wet. Rainfall in Jamaica ranged from very wet in the west to exceptionally wet in the east. Cayman Islands was abnormally dry, but Belize was normal in the south and abnormally wet in the north.

April 2011 to June 2011

For the three month period, rainfall totals were normal to above normal in the eastern Caribbean. Grenada, St. Kitts and St. Croix were normal; Tobago and Anguilla abnormally wet; St. Vincent and Antigua moderately wet; Dominica very wet; and Barbados and St. Lucia extremely wet. Rainfall in Guyana ranged from normal in the west to abnormally dry in the east. Puerto was abnormally wet whilst conditions in the Dominican Republic ranged from extremely wet in the west to normal in the east. Jamaica experienced a range in rainfall from abnormally wet in the west to very wet in the east. The Cayman Islands was exceptionally dry but Belize’s rainfall was normal.

January 2011 to June 2011

As was the case with the three month totals, rainfall in the eastern Caribbean for the period January to June was normal to above normal. Grenada, Tobago and St. Lucia were very wet; Barbados, St. Vincent and Dominica extremely wet; Antigua was abnormally wet, whilst St. Kitts, Anguilla and St. Croix were normal. Rainfall in Guyana was normal in the west and moderately wet in the east. Puerto Rico was normal and conditions in the Dominican Republic ranged from very wet in the west to normal in the east. In Jamaica, rainfall amounts for the period varied from normal in the west to moderately wet in the east. The Cayman Islands was extremely dry whilst Belize was abnormally dry in the south and moderately dry in the north.

July 2010 to June 2011

Rainfall for the twelve month period was generally normal to above normal across the Caribbean basin. In the eastern Caribbean Tobago, Dominica, St. Kitts and Antigua were very wet; Grenada extremely wet; Barbados, St. Vincent and St. Lucia exceptionally wet; Anguilla moderately wet and St. Croix abnormally wet. Conditions in Guyana ranged from abnormally to moderately dry, whilst Puerto Rico was very to extremely wet. Rainfall in the Dominican Republic ranged from extremely wet in the southwest to normal in the northeast. Jamaica was very wet and Cayman Islands moderately dry. Belize ranged from normal to abnormally dry.

SPI Monitor May 2011

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.

SPI Monitor April 2011

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

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

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.

SPI Monitor February 2011

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

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

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.