SPI Monitor March 2018

March 2018

Mixed conditions were experienced in the islands of the eastern Caribbean for the month of February, being particularly different between the south and north. Apart from in the extreme southeast that had below normal rainfall, in Trinidad was normal to exceptionally wet; Tobago and Guadeloupe normal to slightly dry; Grenada very wet; Barbados from slightly dry in the southeast to exceptionally wet in the west; St. Vincent moderate to very wet; St. Lucia and St. Croix normal; Martinique normal to slightly wet; Dominica moderate to severely dry; Antigua slightly dry; St. Kitts severe to extremely dry; and St. Maarten moderately dry. Rainfall in the Guianas was predominantly normal, particularly in Suriname and French Guiana, but ranged from severely dry in the extreme west of Guyana to normal in the east. Aruba was moderately dry and Curacao slightly dry. Puerto Rico ranged from normal in the west to moderately wet in the east, while Hispaniola was normal to slightly wet. Conditions in Jamaica ranged from moderately dry in the extreme west and east to exceptionally wet in the north, but Grand Cayman was moderately dry. Conditions in Cuba ranged from moderately dry in the west to very wet in the extreme south; but northern Bahamas was extremely dry to extremely wet. Belize ranged from severely dry in the west to moderately wet in the north.

January to March 2018

For the three month period, contrasting conditions between the south and north were experienced in the islands of the eastern Caribbean. Trinidad ranged from normal in the south to very wet in the northwest; Tobago moderate to very wet; Grenada exceptionally wet; Barbados moderate to exceptionally wet from southeast to northwest; St. Lucia, Guadeloupe and St. Maarten normal; Martinique slight to moderately wet; Dominica normal to exceptionally wet from northeast to southwest; Antigua moderately dry; St. Kitts slightly dry. Conditions in the Guianas were predominantly normal, particularly in Suriname and French Guyana, while being moderately dry in western areas to normal in Guyana. Aruba was normal while Curacao was slightly wet. Conditions in Puerto Rico ranged from slightly wet in the west to extremely wet in the east, while Hispaniola ranged from normal in the south to exceptionally wet in the north. Conditions in Jamaica ranged from normal in the west to exceptionally wet in the north, but Grand Cayman was moderately dry. Central parts of Cuba were normal to slightly dry, but conditions were normal in the west and from slight to exceptionally wet in the east; but northern Bahamas was moderately dry to very wet. Belize ranged from exceptionally wet in central areas to normal to the north and south.

October 2017 to March 2018

During the six month period, apart from dry conditions being experienced in some of the northern islands, rainfall in the eastern Caribbean island chain was predominantly normal to above normal. Trinidad was slight to exceptionally wet from west to east; Tobago moderate to extremely wet; Grenada moderately wet; Barbados moderate to very wet; St. Lucia normal to slightly wet; Martinique normal to moderately dry; Dominica slight to extremely wet; Guadeloupe slightly wet in the southwest to extremely dry in the east; Antigua moderate to severely dry; St. Kitts and St. Maarten normal. In the Guianas Suriname was normal, French Guiana normal to slightly wet, but Guyana exceptionally dry in the west to normal in the east. Aruba was slightly dry, but Curacao normal. Conditions in Puerto Rico ranged from severely dry in the west to extremely wet in the east, but Hispaniola normal in the south to moderately wet in the north. Conditions in Jamaica ranged from moderately dry in the south to exceptionally wet in the north, while Grand Cayman was slightly wet. Cuba was normal in central areas, normal to slightly dry in the west and slight to exceptionally wet in the east; but northern Bahamas was moderately dry to moderately wet. Belize was normal in the east to extremely wet in the south and very wet in the north.

April 2017 to March 2018

Normal to above normal rainfall totals prevailed over the eastern Caribbean island chain for the twelve month period. Trinidad was slight to extremely wet; Tobago slight to moderately wet; Grenada very wet; Barbados moderate to very wet; St. Lucia normal to slightly wet; Martinique slightly wet to slightly dry; Dominica very to exceptionally wet; Guadeloupe slight to extremely wet; Antigua normal; and St. Kitts moderately wet. Conditions in the Guianas were predominantly normal to moderately wet apart from northern Guyana where rainfall was below normal. Aruba was slightly dry but Curacao normal. Conditions in Puerto Rico ranged from severely dry in the west to exceptionally wet in the east; but Hispaniola ranged from moderately dry in the south to extremely wet in the northeast. In Jamaica, conditions ranged from moderately dry in the west to exceptionally wet in the north, but Grand Cayman was normal. Western Cuba was moderately wet to slightly dry, while eastern Cuba was normal to exceptionally wet; but northern Bahamas was normal. Belize ranged from normal in central areas to moderately wet in the north and south.

April 2016 to March 2018

 

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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.