SPI Monitor July 2012

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.

*Please note that from February 2012, the SPI calculations are relative to years 1961-2010*

 

Discussion

July 2012

The islands of the eastern Caribbean varied from below normal (particularly in the south) to above normal (particularly in the north). Trinidad and St Croix were abnormally dry; Tobago moderately dry; St .Vincent severely dry; Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia and Antigua normal; St. Kitts and Anguilla moderately wet, and Dominica abnormally wet. Rainfall in Guyana ranged from normal in the west to moderately wet in the east. Puerto Rico was abnormal to moderately wet while the Dominica Republic was moderate to very wet. Conditions in Jamaica ranged from abnormally dry in the west to abnormally wet in the east. Cayman Islands was moderately dry, but Cuba was predominantly normal. Conditions in Belize ranged from moderately dry in the south to normal in the north.

May 2012 to July 2012

In the eastern Caribbean and Guyana, apart from St. Croix that was abnormally dry, rainfall was normal to above normal. Trinidad, Barbados, St. Kitts and Anguilla were moderately wet, Tobago, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica and Antigua normal; and conditions in Guyana ranged from moderately wet in the west to normal in the east. Puerto Rico and The Dominican Republic were both normal. Jamaica was predominantly normal apart from the northwest that was abnormally dry. Cayman Islands was abnormally wet. Conditions in Cuba ranged from abnormally dry to moderately wet, while for Belize the range was from normal in the southwest to exceptionally wet in the north.

February 2012 to July 2012

For the six month period, apart from St. Croix that was abnormally dry, rainfall in the eastern Caribbean and Guyana was normal to above normal. Trinidad was extremely wet; Tobago very wet; Grenada, Barbados and St. Kitts moderately wet; St. Vincent and Anguilla abnormally wet; St. Lucia, Dominica and Antigua normal; and Guyana abnormally wet. Puerto Rico was predominantly moderately wet. The Dominican Republic was moderately wet in the northwest and very wet elsewhere. Jamaica was normal, but Cayman Islands was very wet. In Cuba, central areas were above normal, while eastern and western areas were predominantly normal. Belize ranged from normal in the south to very wet in the north.

August 2011 to July 2012

Conditions in the eastern Caribbean and Guyana ranged from normal to above. Trinidad, St. Lucia and Dominica were abnormally wet; Tobago and St. Croix normal; Grenada, Barbados, St. Vincent and Antigua moderately wet; St. Kitts and Anguilla extremely wet; and Guyana from very wet in the west to normal in the east. Puerto Rico was exceptionally wet for the twelve month period, while the Dominican Republic was predominantly normal, but with up to moderately wet conditions in the eastern and southern extremes. Jamaica was normal but the Cayman Islands moderately wet. Rainfall in central areas of Cuba was above normal, while the eastern and western areas were predominantly normal. Conditions in Belize ranged from normal in the south to very wet in the north.Conditions in the eastern Caribbean and Guyana ranged from normal to above. Trinidad, St. Lucia and Dominica were abnormally wet; Tobago and St. Croix normal; Grenada, Barbados, St. Vincent and Antigua moderately wet; St. Kitts and Anguilla extremely wet; and Guyana from very wet in the west to normal in the east. Puerto Rico was exceptionally wet for the twelve month period, while the Dominican Republic was predominantly normal, but with up to moderately wet conditions in the eastern and southern extremes. Jamaica was normal but the Cayman Islands moderately wet. Rainfall in central areas of Cuba was above normal, while the eastern and western areas were predominantly normal. Conditions in Belize ranged from normal in the south to very wet in the north.