SPI Monitor December 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

December 2011

The eastern Caribbean islands were predominantly normal with some exceptions. Tobago, Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica, Anguilla and St, Croix were normal; Grenada abnormally dry; Antigua abnormally wet; St. Kitts exceptionally wet and Trinidad normal to abnormally wet. Conditions in Guyana ranged from very wet in the north to normal further south. Puerto Rico was normal to abnormally wet; whilst the Dominican Republic ranged from extremely wet in the west to moderately dry in the east. Jamaica was predominantly normal with abnormally to moderately dry conditions in the northeast. Cayman Islands was normal, and Belize predominantly so apart from the extreme south that was abnormal to moderately wet.

October 2011 to December 2011

Apart from Grenada and Trinidad that were abnormally dry, rainfall in the islands of the eastern Caribbean was normal to above normal. Tobago, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Antigua and St. Croix were normal; Barbados abnormally wet; and St. Kitts and Anguilla moderately wet. Conditions in Guyana ranged from moderately wet in the north to normal in the south during the three month period. Puerto Rico was normal to abnormally wet and Jamaica and Cayman Islands normal. Rainfall totals ranged from normal in the southwest to severely dry in the northeast in the Dominica Republic. Belize was normal to abnormally dry.

July 2011 to December 2011

For the six month period, apart from Tobago that was moderately dry, rainfall in the islands of the eastern Caribbean was normal to above normal. Grenada and St. Croix were normal; Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia and Antigua moderately wet; Dominica and Anguilla extremely wet; and St. Kitts exceptionally wet. Trinidad and Guyana were normal to abnormally dry. Puerto Rico was exceptionally wet for the period. The Dominican Republic and the Cayman Islands were predominantly normal. Conditions in Jamaica ranged from moderately wet in the west to normal in the east. Apart from the extreme west that was abnormally dry, Belize was predominantly normal.

January 2011 to December 2011

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