SPI Monitor March 2023

March 2023

Conditions throughout the eastern Caribbean were predominantly normal to below normal during the month of March, with the exception of Dominica which was slightly dry to predominantly slightly wet.  Trinidad ranged from extremely dry in western areas to normal in the east; Grenada slight to severely dry; Barbados extreme to slightly dry; St Vincent exceptional to severely dry south to north; Saint Lucia, Guadeloupe, Antigua and St Thomas normal; Martinique, St Maarten and Anguilla moderately dry; St Kitts normal to slightly dry; and St Croix extreme to moderately dry. In the Guianas, conditions were predominantly normal, ranging from moderately wet on the southern Guyana/ Suriname border to extremely dry in southeastern French Guiana. Aruba was normal to predominantly slightly wet and Curacao was normal. Puerto Rico ranged from moderately dry in western areas to normal in the east. The Dominican Republic ranged from exceptionally dry in the extreme west to moderately wet in eastern areas. Jamaica was predominantly normal with slightly dry conditions in the west and slightly wet conditions in the north. Grand Cayman was exceptionally wet. Cuba ranged from extremely wet in the west to moderately dry in the extreme east. Northern Bahamas ranged from normal to moderately wet and Belize was moderately dry in the west to normal in the east.

January to March 2023

Over the three month period, conditions throughout the southern portion of the eastern Caribbean were mostly normal to below normal, while the northern portion were mixed. Trinidad and St Thomas were normal to slightly dry; Grenada and St Kitts normal; Barbados and St Croix severe to moderately dry; St Vincent extreme to moderately dry; Saint Lucia and Antigua normal to slightly wet; Martinique normal to severely dry; Dominica extremely wet to slightly dry; Guadeloupe very wet to moderately dry; and St Maarten and Anguilla moderately dry to normal. In the Guianas conditions ranged from normal to extremely wet. Aruba and curacao were normal. Puerto Rico ranged from moderately wet in northwestern areas to normal in the east. The Dominican Republic ranged from exceptionally dry in the southwest to normal in eastern and northern areas. Jamaica was predominantly normal with slightly dry areas on the extreme northeastern coast. Grand Cayman was normal. Cuba was mostly normal ranging to slightly wet in the west and to extremely dry in the extreme east. Northern Bahamas was normal and Belize ranged from normal in the south to severely dry in the northeast.

October 2022 to March 2023

Mixed conditions prevailed over the six month period throughout the eastern Caribbean. Trinidad ranged from normal to exceptionally wet; Grenada, Saint Lucia and Dominica moderately wet to normal; Barbados and St Vincent moderate to slightly dry; Martinique normal to severely dry; Guadeloupe slightly wet to moderately dry; Antigua, Anguilla and St Thomas normal; St Kitts normal to slightly dry; St Maarten moderately dry to normal; and St Croix moderately dry. In the Guianas, conditions ranged from exceptionally wet to normal. Aruba was normal and Curacao normal to slightly wet. Puerto Rico ranged from severely dry in the west to normal in the east. The Dominican Republic ranged from exceptionally dry in the west to normal in the east. Jamaica ranged from extremely dry in the extreme west and east to normal in the extreme northwest. Grand Cayman was normal. Cuba ranged from very wet in the west to extremely dry in the extreme east. Northern Bahamas ranged from normal to extremely wet and Belize was predominantly normal ranging to slightly wet in central areas and to moderately dry on the northeastern coast.

April 2022 to March 2023

Over the twelve month period conditions in the eastern Caribbean were mixed. Trinidad was moderate to exceptionally wet from southwest to northeast; Grenada slightly wet to normal; Barbados, Antigua and St Maarten slightly dry to normal; St Vincent severe to moderately dry; Saint Lucia, Dominica and Guadeloupe normal to moderately wet; Martinique slightly wet to severely dry south to north; St Kitts slight to moderately dry; and Anguilla, St Croix and St Thomas normal. In the Guianas, conditions ranged from exceptionally wet to normal. Aruba was normal and Curacao slight to moderately wet. Puerto Rico ranged from severely dry in the west to slightly wet in the northeast. The Dominican Republic ranged from exceptionally dry in the southwest to moderately wet in the northeast.  Jamaica ranged from normal in the north to extremely dry in the west and to moderately dry in the east. Grand Cayman was normal. Cuba ranged from exceptionally wet to severely dry. Northern Bahamas was exceptionally wet to normal and Belize was normal in central areas ranging to exceptionally dry in the south, to moderately wet in the north and to extremely wet in the southeast.

April 2021 to March 2023

Apart from in the very south, conditions throughout the eastern Caribbean were predominantly normal to below normal over the two year period. Trinidad was exceptional to extremely wet; Grenada slightly wet to predominantly normal; Barbados severely dry to normal; St Vincent and Martinique severe to moderately dry; Saint Lucia and Anguilla slightly dry to predominantly normal; Dominica moderately dry to normal; Guadeloupe normal to extremely dry; Antigua extremely dry; St Kitts slight to moderately dry; St Maarten moderate to slightly dry; St Croix moderately dry and St Thomas normal. In the Guianas, conditions ranged from exceptionally wet in most of Guyana, French Guiana and southern Suriname to exceptionally dry on the northern coast of French Guiana bordering Suriname. Aruba was normal and Curacao was mostly normal to slightly wet. Puerto Rico ranged from severely dry in the west to slightly wet on the northeastern coast. The Dominican Republic was moderately dry in the southwest ranging to mostly normal. Jamaica ranged from slightly wet in the northwest to extremely dry in the west and to severely dry in the east. Grand Cayman was normal. Cuba ranged from severely dry in west central areas to moderately wet on the west coast and to moderately dry in the extreme east. Northern Bahamas ranged from normal to extremely wet and Belize was predominantly normal ranging to extremely dry in the extreme south and to slightly wet in the extreme north and southeast.

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.